Kathleen “Kay” Rosella Radke, age 91 of Marion, IA, formerly of Tracy, passed away Friday, February 7, 2025 at St. Luke’s Unity Point Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA. Funeral Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 14, 2025 at the Tracy Area Funeral Home. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Tracy City Cemetery.  Stephens Funeral Service – Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Kathleen “Kay” Rosella (Haney) Radke was born January 4, 1934 in Tracy, MN to William and Helen (Koser) Haney. She went to country school through 6th grade and then attended Tracy High School, graduating in 1952. In addition to the stories she would tell of living and helping her parents on the farm as a young girl, Kay worked several jobs over the years. These included being a car hop at “Gabby” Sebastian’s drive-in, clerk of probate court in Renville, legal secretary for Algyer & Buzzell Law Firm of Tracy, 30 years as tax preparer for Lyle O. Porter, 10 years as co-owner of Tracy Minntronix Corporation and 11 years as manager of Tracy Area Housing. Kay married Harold Radke on October 19, 1963. They made their home in Tracy with their son Todd. Kay lost Harold in December 2006. She then enjoyed spending her winters in Arizona from 2007 to 2020 and traveling with Todd to see other family members around the country. She moved to Marion, IA in 2011 to be closer to her only sister Sharlene (Mickey) Neal and their family. Kay had many activities including family genealogy research and was a long-time member of the DAR. She enjoyed getting together with her “coffee group” in Tracy and she loved to play cards, especially the game Hand and Foot. She was a member of two card groups in the Marion area. Kay was a life-long member of the Tracy United Methodist Church where she served as secretary and was involved in many church activities and events and was a member of different women’s circles. Kay was very active until April 2024 when heart failure caused her to gradually slow down. She lived at home until November 2024 at which time she move to a care center in Marion. While there she met new people and enjoyed playing cards and Bingo.
Kay is survived by her son Todd; sister Sharlene Neal; nieces: Kathy Neal of Marion, IA & Sandra (Jim) Nichting of Salem, IA; step-daughter Joanne Stevens of Tracy; step-grandsons: Bryan Radke of Rapid City, SD, David Ellingson of Summerville, SC, Lee Ellingson of Tracy & Michael Ellingson of Brookings, SD; step-daughter in-law Lavona Radke of Rapid City, SD; several cousins; and many other family & friends. Kay is preceded in death by her parents William and Helen Haney of Tracy, husband Harold, step-son Robert Radke of Rapid City, SD, brother-in-law Mickey Neal of Marion, IA, nephew Michael Neal of North Liberty, IA, step-grandson Jeffrey Ellingson of Marshall, aunts, uncles & cousins.