Beverly D. (Kraska) Rademacher, 64, formerly of Green Bay, died Thursday morning, January 28, 2016, peacefully in her sleep at her home in Fishers, Indiana. She was a beloved wife and mother, who treasured most the time she spent creating memories with her family and friends - especially her 7 grandchildren. A retired elementary teacher, Bev was an active golfer, scrapbooker, and cock-eyed optimist who always saw the glass as half full. Her love, friendship, spunk, wit, compassion, beautiful smile and spirit will be remembered always and missed more than words can express.
Bev was born August 15, 1951, in Chicago, IL and grew up in Cicero, IL, where she made numerous lifelong friends and graduated from Our Lady of Charity Elementary School and J.S. Morton East High School. Life then took her to Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL, where she majored in Special Education, made even more lifelong friends, and met Charles R. Rademacher, whom she would marry and embark on a 42-year long romance. After a few years working in the greater Chicago area and having two boys, Gregory and Mark, the family would relocate to Green Bay, WI, where Bev, with the addition of their daughter, Lisa, devoted herself to raising the growing family. When her children were old enough, Bev returned to teaching, this time in the Green Bay Public School District, inspiring her students and enriching the network of friends that she would maintain her entire life. Always seeking a challenge, Bev returned to school and earned her master’s degree in education from Viterbo College. She taught with passion and love for 20 years prior to her retirement in 2010. Bev took to retirement with ease, describing her time traveling far and wide with Chuck, visiting family and friends, and doting on her grandchildren as “The best years of my life!” Or as she also stated: “I’m living the dream.”
She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Charles R. Rademacher, Fishers, IN; her children Gregory (Jenelle Schmidt), Madison, WI, Mark (Dusty Howse), Indianapolis, IN, and Lisa (Telly Berry), Spring, TX; seven grandchildren, Jackson, Reid, Payton, Savanah, Arlo, Tristan, and Madeline; her siblings Kenneth W. Kraska (Deborah Drewes), Barbara L. (Kraska) Johnson, and Donald C. Kraska (Gail Svehla); numerous nieces and nephews; and too many friends to list.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank Kraska and Dorothy (Delestowicz) Kraska; one brother-in-law Stephen Johnson; and her godchildren, Todd A. Kraska and Robert E. Steinbrecker.
Services will be held at Williams-Kampp Funeral Home, Wheaton, IL. Please see their website,
http://www.williams-kampp.com
, for more details as they are finalized.
Malcore Funeral Home assisted the family as close family friends. Memories can be shared on this site, which will be forwarded on to the immediate family.
Contributions in memory of Bev may be made to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (ccfa.org).