David was born Oct. 23, 1929, in Milwaukee, Wis., to the late Walter Edward and Helen Radke.
He attended the University of Wisconsin and Northwestern University. He came to Catawba County in 1965 as general manager of the Boise Cascade, Newton plant. In 1969 he started his own business, Inter-Continental Corporation. He was still active as the CEO of his company. Mr. Radke had two sons, Mark, who is president of Inter-Continental Corp. and Steve, who passed away in 2010. He also had a daughter, Linda, who lives in Charlotte. In addition to running his company, he lived on and operated a farm in Maiden. He enjoyed the hard work that farming and tending to a variety of livestock afforded him. He was an avid collector and enjoyed restoring vintage automobiles, tractors, and trains, which he proudly displayed around his homestead. He collected art and art objects but most of all he collected friends. Dave was gregarious, outgoing, and larger than life, with a powerful presence in every setting. He could be a stern businessman when necessary, but he was a generous gentleman in his relationships with friends and family. Dave was also a pilot for many years and he passed his passion for aviation along to his sons and grandsons. His love of adventure often involved boating and the enjoyment of the sea, with many close ties to his low-country friends and family at Fripp Island, S.C. Left to cherish his memory is his family, son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Sharon Killian Radke, of Maiden; a daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Craig Houston, of Charlotte; three granddaughters; three grandsons; and a sister, Diane Fee and husband, George, of New Orleans, La. All will miss him dearly, as will his friends. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his son, Steve; and a brother, Donald Radke. Services will be held Friday, March 8, at 2 p.m. at Hickory Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. David Ziehr officiating. The family will receive friends Friday, from 12 to 1:45 p.m. at Hickory Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Catawba Regional Hospice, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, NC 28658 and the American Red Cross. A blood drive will be held at Inter-Continental Corporation in the near future. Condolences may be made online at www. hickoryfh.com. Hickory Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements
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