Catherine Marie Raddatz

Catherine M. Raddatz died Tuesday, March 11, 2014, at Bethel Home, peacefully and surrounded by her family.Catherine was born in Waupaca, WI, on August 7, 1920, to Hans Louis and Hazel Larsen. The family moved to Oshkosh when she was 7 and joined First English Lutheran Church, where she remained a lifelong member.At a dance a few years after high school, Catherine was serenaded by the band leader, Lyle Raddatz, who noticed her and her red skirt. He sang Youre the Only Star in My Blue Heaven, while looking at her. They married on August 28, 1943, and shared 62 happy years together, dancing, playing bridge and sheepshead, and traveling until Lyles death in 2005.Catherine was a kind, gentle, compassionate person who always thought of others before herself. She was always looking for ways to help other people.An accomplished seamstress, she started by making matching outfits for herself and her sister, Doris, all through high school. She continued making clothes for her children and grandchildren, even reusing a 50-year-old bathrobe to make pajamas for a grandson. Catherine was a talented amateur hairdresser who gave many haircuts and permanents to friends and family over the years. For most of her life she cut, permed and colored her own hair, too.If she wanted to do something: refinishing furniture, sewing, cutting hair, painting, cleaning mink pelts, she figured out how to do it. Her attitude always was, Of course I can!After high school she worked at Commercial Service Bureau, then spent many years working on the farm and later worked in the office at Evergreen Manor.She is survived by four children, who cannot remember her ever losing her temper: Karla (Bernie) Hoefgen, Eau Claire, Marcia (Alan) Borgardt, Oshkosh, Pastor Kent (Ginny) Raddatz, Wisconsin Rapids, and Lori (Jeff) Subat, Oshkosh; 11 grandchildren, who loved to stay overnight at her house more than anything: Anne and Jill Hoefgen, Nathan, Jason, Chris and Nick Raddatz, Scott Sticka, Trisha (Borgardt) Cairns, Brady Borgardt, and Adam and Grace Subat; and by 14 great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle; granddaughter, Carrie Sticka; sister and brother-in-law Doris and Howard Kossel, brother and sister-in-law Hans Louis, Jr., and Vivian Larsen, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Audrey and Giffen Koepke.Many thanks to the wonderful staff at Bethel Home for their loving care of Catherine during her years there. Services for Catherine will be held Saturday, March 15, 2014 at First English Lutheran Church at Noon with Reverend Tim Greenwald officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to service. Burial will be at Ellenwood Cemetery.

First English Lutheran Church



1013 Minnesota Street
Oshkosh
WI
54902

00:00.0
11:00 a.m. - service



Ellenwood Cemetery



20th and Washburn
Oshkosh
WI
54904






First English Lutheran Church



1013 Minnesota Street
Oshkosh
WI
54902

00:00.0
Noon