Marian V. (Will) Radermacher passed away and went to be with the Lord the morning of October 19, 2014. The Celebration of Life Service is Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 11:00 AM with visitation from 9:00 – 11:00 AM at Prior Lake Baptist Church. Reverend Ron Groschel and Reverend Samuel Choi will preside. Marian will be laid to rest at St. Nicholas Cemetery in New Market. Pallbearers for Marian are Andrew Will, Justin Will, Shane Will, Spencer Will, Jacob Will and Edward Will. Honorary pallbearers are Quentin Will, Dawn Atwood and Erin deBruyn.
It was a cold winter morning on January 15, 1924 when Otto and Elizabeth Kettner celebrated the birth of their beautiful baby girl, Marian Virginia Kettner. She was born on the family farm in Dahlgren Township in Carver County. Marian was the third of nine children. As a girl Marian helped care for the cows, chickens and hogs on the family farm. In the winter she loved to toboggan down the steep hill in town right into the middle of the busy intersection. Marian always had a fun-loving spirit.
She attended school through the eighth grade as she didn’t qualify for higher education because of a hearing disability. Marian didn’t let that slow her down though. She worked hard to help support her large family. She helped with chores on the farm, worked on her aunts’ and uncles’ farms, had a job at Mud Baden and cared for her elderly grandmothers who lived with the Kettner family.
As a young woman, Marian met the first love of her life, Aaron Will. The two were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Carver on August 27, 1946. They were blessed with two wonderful boys, Gerald and Myron. Sadly, in 1956 Aaron died in a car accident. Marian was left to raise the two boys on her own. She was a single mother who worked hard to provide a good life for her boys. Marian was employed at the Minneapolis School for the Blind which allowed her to send Gerald and Myron to a parochial school where they received a good Christian education. Over the years Marian and her boys lived in Marystown, Chaska and New Market.
On June 24, 1961 Marian married the second love of her life, Julius Radermacher, at Guardian Angels Church in Chaska. Together they built their life in New Market and spent 15 wonderful years together before Julius passed away suddenly in 1975. Marian had just started attending the Minneapolis School for the Blind as she had been declared legally blind in 1967. It was here that she learned to cook, clean and live independently. Marian battled hearing and sight disabilities her whole life, but she always had a positive attitude and an unwavering faith.
About 30 years ago Marian sold her home and moved in with her son Myron and his family. She enjoyed her time with them and even got to go to on a family trip to Disney World with them. Even though she couldn’t see, she had a wonderful time with her family. Her favorite ride was It’s A Small World . Marian began studying Braille in her 60’s. It was very hard to learn, but Marian was a disciplined and determined woman. She loved to read her Braille Bible and do devotionals. Marian lived with her son for 10 years before moving to Prior Manor. It was truly inspirational how a woman who had so many trials in her life could live independently and maintain a happy outlook. In July of 2012, Marian moved to Emerald Crest in Shakopee where she received excellent care until she died.
She was an exceptional cook, and her specialties were cream puffs, homemade egg noodles, and the red velvet cake she’d prepare for Christmas. Marian was also an avid card player. She played just about every game and even had a Braille deck of cards. BINGO was another game Marian loved, and she played a lot of it at Prior Manor. Marian enjoyed needlework and had a talent for crocheting.
Marian was a kind woman with a big heart who was always thinking of others. She had a great sense of humor and never missed an opportunity to have fun. Family and faith were the most important things in her life. Marian was a proud member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.
Left to honor Marian’s life and to mourn her death are her sons, Gerald “Jerry” (Patricia) Will and Myron (Gwenn) Will; grandchildren, Dawn (Nathan) Atwood, Andrew (Lindsey Goodale) Will, Quentin (Michelle) Will, Justin (Melissa) Will, Erin (David) deBruyn; great-grandchildren, Shane, Shelby, Spencer, Sadie, Jacob, Christiana, Abrielle, Jack, Karissa, Katelyn, Nèvè and Siena; siblings, Lucille Engelen and Lu Allen (Shirley) Kettner; other loving relatives and friends. Marian is preceded in death by husbands, Aaron Will and Julius Radermacher; siblings, Theodora (Elmer) Buescher, Otto E. (Dorothy) Kettner, Lila (Joseph, Jr.) Engelen, Lawrence Kettner and Allen Kettner.
The Will family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation.
