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Dean B. Rademaker

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[February 04, 2019]  SPRINGFIELD - Dean B. Rademaker, 93, of Springfield, died Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at St. Johns Hospital in Springfield.

Visitation:  9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday February 4, 2019 at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln,

Service:  10:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home

Funeral home: Fricke-Calvert-Schrader, Lincoln   

Obituary

Dean B. Rademaker, 93, of Springfield, died Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at St. Johns Hospital in Springfield. He was born September 27, 1925, near Emden, the youngest child of Joe and Allie Bruns Rademaker. On May 30, 1954, he married Priscilla Ann Shirley at the Christian Church in Hartsburg. She died November 27, 2018.

After graduating from the three-year high school in Emden, Dean finished his senior year at Hartsburg. Upon graduation, Dean joined the U. S. Coast Guard during WWII and was a member of the U. S. Coast Guard Combat Veterans.

After his military service, Dean attended Bradley University, earning his B.S. Degree, and later his M.A. Degree. He began his teaching career at Elkhart, and then moved into the Decatur school system. In 1963, he was hired as the Virginia School District Superintendent, and retired from the Illiopolis school system in 1984.

After retirement, Dean sold AFLAC Insurance to help finance his new endeavor, marathon running, where he was known as The Flying Turtle. Dean accomplished the feat of running marathons in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. From that experience, he founded a new group and authored many newsletters of the 50anddcmarathongroup. He also had run marathons inside the Arctic Circle, Antarctic Circle, and even twice in Cuba.

He and Priscilla never missed a grandchild’s school or sporting event and had season tickets to Bradley Basketball for many years, enjoyed watching the games with their many friends. They were also active church members, the last thirty-four years with St. John’s Lutheran Church in Springfield.

 

Besides his wife, Dean was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Alta Klockenga, Grace Bergman and Laverne Downs, and brother, John J. Rademaker. He is survived by his children, Ronda (Dave) Handy of Ashland, Rod (Jill) Rademaker of Oakford, granddaughters Monica (Dusty) Handy Cookson of Dodge City KS, and Rhiannon Rademaker of Oakford, grandsons Duran (Mackenzie) Rademaker, Dusty (Stacey) Rademaker, both of Petersburg, Brad (Kyra Gwaltney) Handy of Ashland and Caleb (Jessica Rueter) Handy of Winchester. He also is survived by seven great grandchildren, Chloe, Clara, Conleigh and Callie Cookson of Dodge City KS and Bree Dougherty, Chyler Rademaker and Coyt Rademaker of Petersburg. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Jenny Lou Boughan and his brother-in-law, Allen Dean (Luella) Shirley both of Lincoln, and many nieces and nephews.

Services for Dean will be 10:30 a.m. Monday February 4, 2019 at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln, with Rev. Greg Busboom officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to service (9:30-10:30). Burial at Hartsburg Union Cemetery will follow the service.

Memorials may be made in Dean’s name to St. Peter Lutheran Church.

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