Frances Radke Leick

Frances Lenore Radke Leick, 85, passed away in peace and love surrounded by her immediate family on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Marshfield Medical Center.

She was born on August 15,1941, in Auburndale, to John and Emma Frodl (Junemann).

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands: Dennis Radke and Gilbert Leick; her siblings: Dorothy & Greg Manney, Phyllis Frodl and Charlotte (Don) Frodl. She is survived by her siblings: Rosemary & Richard Haigh, Jerry & Nancy Frodl and Donald (Charlotte) Frodl; her sons: Mark (Leslie) Radke, Mike (Kelly) Radke, Craig Radke and Brian Radke; the sons and daughters she gained in her marriage to Gilbert: Deb (Joel) Tomlinson, Steve (Joanie) Leick, Greg (MaryKay) Leick, Kevin (Kathy Leick) and Karen (Meldon) Maguire. She is further survived by her grandchildren: Michael Radke Jr., Emma Radke (Joshua Karl) and Luke (Jena) Radke, Jason (Laura) Tomlinson, Janelle (Matt) Richard, Jeremy (Sarah) Tomlinson, Justin (Hilary) Leick, Candice (Brad) Surcey, Adam Leick, April (Jeremy) Bores, Brooke (Cayden) Janse, Skye (Johnanthan) Filtz, Fawne Maguire, Austin Schneider and Taylre Schneider. She is survived by multiple greatgrandchildren on her Leick side, and welcomed her first greatgranddaughter on her Radke side, Madeline Mae Radke, in 2024.

Frances grew up on the family’s dairy farm and loved being outdoors observing nature all her life. Native songbirds were her most favored companions, especially her cardinals. If you ever need a word with her, she will surely be with the birds. Dennis and Frances were married on June 18, 1960, and started their family in Kenosha. Soon after, they came back to Stratford, where Frances remained a fixture of the community for 60 years.

Frances always said her best friends were her siblings and her family. She was bandmates with her brother Donald in the Don Frodl Orchestra, best fishing buddies with her sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Greg, adored her brother Jerry and sisters-in-law, Chucky and Nancy, and was generally in cahoots as often as she could be with her sisters Dorothy, Rosemary and Phyllis. She enjoyed fishing, playing cards, and getting up to shenanigans with her first husband and high school sweetheart, Dennis. These hobbies and minor vices she passed down to her sons, with whom she loved spending her time. With her second husband, Gilbert, Frances created her well-known forest haven filled with the songbirds, squirrels, chipmunks, and deer who came to know the couple as their special friends, too. She was card partners with her grandsons and piano partners with her

granddaughter, Emma. She cherished the relationships she forged with the Leick children through the end of her life as well, ____ especially with Deb and Karen.

She shared her gift for music with her community by playing her accordion in local festivals, parades, and nursing homes. She was forever tapping her fingers and bouncing her knee, keeping time with the many, many polka songs she knew by heart. She was an avid supporter of Stratford’s athletic teams, of which her grandson Luke was a decorated wrestler and football player. She attended St Joseph’s Church, and was married to Gilbert there in 2001. Her Catholic faith sustained and guided her from birth, through her final hours when she was looking forward to seeing all the loved ones that went before her at the big polka party Upstairs.

A Mass of Christian burial was held for Frances on Wednesday, April 8, at St. Joseph’s Church in Stratford. Attendees were encouraged to wear cardinal red in her honor. Rosary service began at 9:30 a.m., visitation at 10 a.m., and the funeral Mass at noon. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Dennis, at Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery, with luncheon to follow at Country Aire. A livestream of the service was available on Frances’ obituary page at www.rembsfh.com/obituaries/frances-radke-leick.

May her memory be a blessing to all those who will love and miss her until we meet again. Condolences may be sent online at www.rembsfh.com.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Paid obituary 182204

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