Gothard Rademacher

Gothard T. Rademacher, age 95, of Melrose and formerly of Freeport, was called to Heaven on Sunday, November 17, 2013 at the Pine Haven Nursing Home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, November 22 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Roger Klassen, O.S.B. officiating and Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the church in Freeport. Goldenaires Senior Citizens will pray at 4 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 5 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.

Gothard Theodore Rademacher was born August 14, 1918 in Krain Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Carl and Frances (Benolken) Rademacher. He lived on the home farm until 1943 when he purchased the ancestral farm of his future wife. He married Irene Hoeschen on September 12, 1944 at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany. The couple farmed near Freeport until 1955 and then for a year near Rice. In 1956, they returned to Freeport and Gothard secured a job with D. H. Blattner and Sons Construction Company. He worked for them for 27 years; including time in Oklahoma and Colorado building earthen dams.

Gothard was an avid fisherman, often catching fish when his fellow fishermen did not. Many of those fish were cleaned and given to family and friends to enjoy. Gothard enjoyed gardening and shared his crop with many happy recipients. He played many different card games, which he seldom lost. He liked the jingle of his winnings in his pocket. Gothard often willingly assisted family and friends when they had a project that required extra hands. He was a hardworking man and passed his strong work ethic on to his children. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport.

Gothard is survived by his wife of 69 years, Irene Rademacher of Melrose; children, Chuck (Marilyn) Rademacher of Albany, Jim (Ann) Rademacher of Pittsford, VT, Jane (Jerry) Schulte of St. Cloud, Don (Patti) Rademacher of Wayzata, and Jack (Kim) Rademacher of Fond du Lac, WI; 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Gothard was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Barbara Gasperlin, Henrietta Ostendorf, Petronella Rademacher, Bertha Voller, Ann Voller, Rose Rolfes, Marie Schiffler, and brothers, Thomas, Anton, Norbert, Paul, and Larry Rademacher.

A special thank you to Dr. Heller and the nursing home staff for the wonderful loving care he received.

Serving as casket bearers will be Chuck Rademacher, Jim Rademacher, Don Rademacher, Jack Rademacher, Jane Schulte, and Jerry Schulte. Cross bearer will be Josh Rademacher and scripture bearer will be Kathy Black. Gift bearers will be Jim Schulte, Michael Rademacher, and Emily Rademacher. Readers will be Erin Rademacher and Peter Rademacher. The eulogy will be read by Chuck Rademacher.