Alice Radke

Alice’s family would like to share:  Please wear your mask to protect those who cannot yet be vaccinated.  

Alice Radke, 89, of rural Big Springs passed away Tuesday morning, July 20, 2021, in Denver.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 24, 2021, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Chappell with Father Bryan Ernest and Deacon Dixon Powers officiating.  Alice’s wishes were to donate her body to the Nebraska Anatomical Board for medical education and scientific research.  Burial will take place at a later date in Ash Hollow Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Friday from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with a rosary service beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Memorials in Alice’s name can be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Chappell is serving the Radke family.

Alice Marie was born May 27, 1932, to Wilbur and Amy (McCulloch) Mussey at Sedgwick, Colorado.  She was the second of 5 children.  The family attended Sedgwick schools.  Alice graduated in 1950.  She received a scholarship and attended Colorado A&M at Ft. Collins for one year. 

Alice met Gene Radke on a blind date in January of her senior year.  After that he spent many Sundays at the Mussey’s and often went to the movies at Crook, Julesburg, or Chappell.  Alice and Gene were engaged to be married on February 22, 1953.  Alice took her Catholic instructions from Father Puhl in Julesburg, and they were married in the Julesburg Catholic Church on September 21, 1953.  After a Canadian honeymoon, they lived with Gene’s parents at the farm until his parents bought a home in Chappell.

Before her marriage, Alice worked at The Sioux Ordinance Depot, riding with other ladies from Sedgwick who worked there.  After marriage she began her life as a homemaker.  Alice liked to sew, making clothes and quilts for the family, making jellies, jams, or pickles from the fruit trees in the yard or from lugs the family would buy.  She enjoyed making breads, pies, and desserts.

Alice and Gene traveled whenever they could.  They would attend Wheat Board meetings around the US, People to People tours in New Zealand, Australia, and Tahiti.  Their favorite trip was to Belgium to see Dan’s family when he worked there.

Alice is survived by her 7 children; Nancy (Kelly) Clark, Patricia (Linas) Dambrava, Susan Armstrong, Jer Radke, Daniel (Sandra) Radke, John (De) Radke, and Wanda (Roger) Meredith; 15 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Carol Juett and many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Melvin and Clifford Mussey, and a sister, Ester Reichman.