Marjorie JoAnn (Schade) Gresens Raddatz

Trusting in her Savior Jesus Christ for her salvation, and eagerly anticipating the joy of Heaven that awaited her, Marjorie JoAnn (Schade) Gresens Raddatz left this world on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Her passing brings an end to her courageous 20-year battle with long-fought illnesses. Her smile, unique sense of humor, and positive outlook on life stayed with her until the very end.

Marjorie was born to Adelbert “Bill” Schade and Eleanore (Blaubach) Schade on May 27, 1940, in Wausau, WI. She was baptized on July 13, 1940, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hamburg, WI, and confirmed in Christ on April 11, 1954, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Rib Falls, WI.

Her grade school years were spent at Maple Grove School in Hamburg, WI, and Vilas School, Marathon, WI. She taught Sunday School for many years and could easily recall Bible verses and stories. In 1958 she graduated from Marathon High School. She also studied Communications and Public Relations at Northcentral Technical College. In her younger years, she was a bank teller for Franklin Savings and Loan. She also was employed at Wausau Insurance Company, Marathon County ASCS (USDA Farm Service Agency), The Tribute Companies affiliated with Restlawn Memorial Park Association, and JCPenney, Co. where she was most recently employed as a top sales wardrobe consultant in the Men’s Suit Department. Marge made every single client feel special and she often said that working with people gave her great joy. After 18 years of devoted service, she retired in 2006.

In her younger years, Marjorie had many musical abilities. At the age of 4, she sang, “Away in a Manger” on Christmas Eve at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Town of Hamburg (the old red brick church). This is when she realized God was real and had sent his Son, Jesus, in the form of a baby to save the world so we could have eternal life. Since that very day, she has never fallen away from her commitment to the Lord.

Margie also loved to sing with her sister, Annie, at an early age. They were known to many as The Schade Sisters. They won many musical awards and sang for countless weddings and funerals. Margie also played piano, piano accordion, and Thomas Organ which was very fulfilling.

She served as a room mother of the former Zion Lutheran School, Wausau, WI, and a church elder of Zion Lutheran Church, Wausau, WI. Over the years, Marjorie loved to make birthdays and holidays special for her family. She paid close attention to detail and exhibited that love by preparing delicious meals and scrumptious desserts. She was also a talented interior decorator. All the homes she ever resided in had her personal touch and were always a sight to behold. Her favorite collection was Seraphim Classic Angels. She always felt safe and secure with them in her presence.

Although Marjorie battled with many physical ailments, she always tried her best to attend all extended family functions. She wanted to enjoy her family as long as possible. Although she was homebound for the last two years of her life, she stayed aware of happenings by partaking in social media and it gave her much happiness to stay in touch with her family and friends. Whether it was sharing a phone call, drinking a cup of coffee, or going to doctor appointments, Marge made family togetherness a top priority in her life even when it was hard to do so.

On August 1, 1959, she married Monte H. Gresens at Zion Lutheran Church, Town of Rib Falls. Their marriage was blessed with four daughters and a son. Marjorie often said how blessed she felt to have raised five strong Christian children. Together with Monte, she operated “Honey Grass Farms” with registered Holsteins for many years. In November of 1967, they had the honor of being interviewed by the Milwaukee Journal to shed light on the trends of farm life at that time. Marjorie was a bookkeeper for the farm, as well as for the trucking company that she and Monte owned together for a few years. As a family, they enjoyed raising purebred AKC Registered German Shepherds.

On August 14, 1999, Marjorie married David H. Raddatz at Zion Lutheran Church, Wausau, WI. Though there were many trials in Marjorie’s life, she remained strong because of her faith in God. One of the greatest blessings, besides her children and grandchildren, was when God brought David into her life. Along with his love of the Lord and commitment to her came true peace and joy. For over 20 years, they loved being together and thought that they had each found their soulmate, through the Lord’s guidance.

Survivors include the children and grandchildren with whom she was blessed, her son, Hugh (Pam) Gresens, her daughters, Janean (John) Andrus, Julie Deverell, Faye (Paul) Zernicke, and Karla (Greg) Tennant; her step-daughters, Suzanne Raddatz and Audra (Chris) Kern; her grandchildren David Gresens, Kyle (Lynae) Gresens, Ashley (Chad) Kumm, Emily Deverell (Aaron Burrell), Joey Deverell (fiancée Rachel McDermand), Melissa (Daniel) Shewmake, Meredith (Steve) VanEtten, Melanie (Derek) Honaas, Marcus Zernicke, Karissa Kroll, and Samuel Tennant; her step-grandchildren Jonah and Braden Kern; her great-grandchildren Ronan Gresens, Michael Kumm, Vivian Burrell, Andrew and Allison Hall, Logan and Lydia Shewmake, Connor and Isabella Wendt, and Cora Honaas; her step-great-grandchildren Lyric Kumbier, Emma VanEtten, and Nicholas VanEtten; her siblings Harold (Elaine) Schade, LaVerne Schade and Annabelle Kurth; her sister-in-law Barbara Schade; many cousins, nieces, nephews; and very special friends Dawn Kasper Harder and Rena Szarkowitz.

Besides her husband and parents, Marjorie was preceded in death by her brother, Arlyn Schade, brother-in-law Dale Kurth, sister-in-law Kaye Schade, mother-in-law Florence Raddatz, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Florian (Rudolph) Kolbe Jr., her former husband, Monte H. Gresens, and many loving and devoted dogs over the years including her miniature dachshunds, Kojak, Sydney, and Chesney.

Marjorie’s abundant life will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, May 6, 2023, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Wausau, with Pastor Eric Hauan officiating. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery, Town of Maine. Visitation will take place from 9:00 until the time of the service at the church Saturday. Family and friends are also invited for visitation on Friday, May 5th, 2023, at Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce Street, Wausau from 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. A special time for sharing memories will take place at 6:30 P.M. Marjorie’s Life Celebration service will be livestreamed for viewing on her obituary page at www.helke.com.

Marjorie’s family would like to thank the many people who helped to extend Marjorie’s life the past twenty years, especially Pastor Eric Hauan, Pastor Steven Gjerde, Dr. Bart Isaacson, Dr. Mark Hoffman, Duane Calmes, and Erin Yusten. Being able to spend more time together as a family has been priceless to us. We will be forever grateful to you.

I Live On

Author Unknown

Don’t cry for me in sadness; don’t weep for me in sorrow,

For I will be beside you, as sure as comes tomorrow.

My body has gone but my spirit lives on, as does my love for you.

Just as in life. I’ll watch over you, I always will be true.

My blood lives on in my children, how I’ve watched them grow up with pride.

I’ll live on within them, always by their side.

I know my jokes weren’t always funny and jobs weren’t always done.

Just try and always remember the good times; the days when we had fun.

Reach out if you need me, for I will always be near.

Just talk to me, as if I am there, I promise I will hear.

For I’ll live on, within your mind, we’ll never be apart.

As long as you keep my memory, deep within your heart.

So lift up your hearts, don’t be sad, my spirit hasn’t gone.

While you’re still there, so am I, I really will live on.