Larry Radke was born the youngest of six in Hoisington, Kansas. After graduating from Otis Rural High School, he immediately joined the Marine Corps where he proudly served for 3 years, being stationed in San Diego, California and Kodiak, Alaska. After returning home, he completed IBM punch card training (1962), went to Kansas City to find a job and was hired on his first day by Anchor Savings Association. He worked his way up from a tab operator to Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer.
After meeting the love of his life, Billie Jean Bain, at Anchor in 1962, they married in 1964 at Overland Park Lutheran Church. They had two children, Kevin Jay (1965) and Kelley Lyn (1966). After decades of work at Anchor Savings, he subsequently worked at Overland Park Savings and Argentine Federal Savings as Executive Vice-President until he retired in 2012. He served as both Vice-President and as President of the Kansas City Chapter of the Financial Managers Society for Savings Institutions in the 1980s. He had worked in the Savings and Loan business for 50 years.
For more than 20 years, he LOVED enthusiastically umpiring (ASA and USSSA) mens/womens/co-ed slow pitch softball. As a member of the Williams fund, he actively supported the University of Kansas Jayhawks and attended KU football games for over 30 years. He avidly listened to the Kansas City Royals on the radio when he didn’t attend games. He also loved cheering for the KC Chiefs.
Having grown up in the Lutheran church, Larry joined the Overland Park Lutheran Church in 1962. He remained an active and involved member, serving as an usher, financial secretary and volunteer grounds maintenance until 2021, when he moved to San Antonio to be nearer to his family.
At home, Larry enjoyed maintaining a beautifully manicured yard and landscaping. He loved reading the Bible, devotionals, the Entire History of the Marine Corp, and his favorite author was Ken Follett. He thoroughly enjoyed playing cards with Billie and his family.
Besides all of this, Larry as Dad and Grandpa has ardently supported his children and grandchildren by attending numerous dance recitals, volleyball, softball, soccer, football and basketball games, band and choir concerts, musicals, gymnastics meets, plays, Youth for Christ rallies and Scholars bowls as well as birthday parties.
Most people will remember his fun-loving personality and ability to laugh at himself, his smile and laugh, his kind heart – always willing to help when he saw something needed to be done; his patience and forgiveness; his humility and his love.
Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Katie Radke; his brothers: Ralph, Clayton, Harry and Tom Radke; his sister, Helen Nuss; and his grandson, Tyler Jamison Sweeney.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Billie Jean Radke; his son, Kevin Jay Radke (Linda) of Tucson, Arizona; his daughter, Kelley Lyn Sweeney (John) of San Antonio, Texas; granddaughters: Chelsi Morelock (Zac), Dr. Ashley Sweeney, Kristina Radke, Lindsey Radke, Hope Sweeney and Victoria Sweeney; grandsons: Phillip Radke (Vivi), Christian Sweeney (Taylor), Joel Sweeney (Meagan), and Jude Sweeney; 11 great-grandchildren: Dakota and Hannah Morelock, Amery, Roy and Ellie Radke, Kiersten and Kaylie Williams, Kinsley Radke, Jionni Diaz, Andrew and Adalyn Sweeney and a future baby Jayhawk Sweeney; and multiple beloved nieces and nephews.
Larry was incredibly loved and respected by so many. And his sense of humor and humbleness will be deeply missed. “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Visitation will be from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 23, 2021 at Overland Park Lutheran Church, 7810 W. 79th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66204. Funeral services will be 11:00 am on Friday, September 24th at Overland Park Lutheran Church. Burial to follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, Kansas. Memorial contributions are suggested to Tyler's House KC, 5903 Johnson Drive, Mission, Kansas 66202.
