Maria Adella Radke

February 9, 1923 - June 22, 2016

Maria Adella was born on February 9, 1923, in Portland, OR, to Fritz Rathke and Mildred (Mannen) Rathke. The youngest of four children, Maria attended Commerce High School. She married Harold L. Radke on October 9, 1940. They had three children. During World War II, while Harold served in the Navy, Maria worked at the Nabisco Company and later in retail sales at several locations throughout the Portland area. In 1972, when Harold retired from the U.S. Forest Service, they moved to Sherwood, OR, where they began their second careers as farmers. They have been members of St. Paul Lutheran Church for forty-four years, and through Lutheran Family Services, they became foster parents to fourteen other children. Maria was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; sister, Violet Devincenzi; brothers, Lewis Huntley and LeRoy Rathke; son, Harold Daniel Radke; and granddaughter Erinn Marie Radke. She is survived by her daughters, Linda Maria McWhirter and Patricia Anne Garstka; five grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and foster children. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, at 11:00 am at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sherwood, OR. Arrangements are by Attrell's Funeral Chapels. Memorial contributions may be made to Lutheran Community Services Northwest.