JOYCE A. RADKE

‘Those who die in grace go no further from us than God and God is very near’ Joyce Annette Radke, 76, of Aurelia died Monday the 28th of April at Unity Point St. Lukes Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa. Her family was by her side as she passed to be with the Lord. Joyce was born in Des Moines, Iowa to John and Eleanor (Jenkins) Redenbaugh on March 27,1938. She was a beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and child of God. She was baptized 1946 at First Baptist Church in Newton, Iowa and confirmed in 1958 at College Hill Lutheran, Cedar Falls, Iowa. She graduated from Storm Lake HS in the class of 1955 and attended UNI. She and Erik Radke from Aurelia were wed August 11, 1957 and deeply devoted for 56 years. She was active in the Aurelia community and a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. She had been secretary of Iowa District West Missouri Synod for Ladies Aid, also co-chairing housing for the Missouri Synod Lutheran International Ladies Aid Convention finding housing for 8000 women. Joyce is preceded in death by her parents and son, David Erik Radke.She is survived by her husband Erik Radke; son Mark Radke and his wife Barbara of Aurelia, Iowa; daughter Annette Harris and her husband Dr. Stephen Harris of Charlotte, NC; and daughter-in-law Dr. Anne Radke of Mint Hill, NC. Joyce leaves behind five grandchildren: (Mark’s) Erin Garcia of Valladolid, Spain and Sarah Radke of Marshall, Missouri; (Annette’s) Philip Harris of Steamboat Springs, CO and Wesley Harris of Charlotte, NC; and (David’s) Erika Jane Radke of Mint Hill, NC. Joyce enjoyed travel, arts and crafts and technology from floppy discs to ipads. She enjoyed wintering in Alamo, Texas for the past 12 years and loved staying in touch with her grandchildren using Skype and Facebook. She suffered many years of severe arthritis. She needed multiple operations in her later years and spent much of her time in rehabilitation. Her family will remember her as amazingly strong, stoic and always devoted to her Christian faith. Redig Funeral Home of Aurelia, Iowa is handling arrangements. Visitation will be held on Thursday May 1st at St. Paul Lutheran Church from 4-8pm with the family in attendance from 6-8pm. Funeral Service will be at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Friday May 2nd at 10:30am with Pastor Larry Lemke officiating with burial following at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Donations received will be contributed to the St. Paul Lutheran Organ Fund.