Elwood “Rod” Rademacher, Rockford

Elwood M. “Rod” Rademacher, age 64, of Rockford, died on July 28, 2001, at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia.

Funeral services were on Aug. 1, 2 p.m., at Lyndale Lutheran Church in Independence, with Pastor Lyndon Nygaard officiating. Music by Bonnie Theis, organist, and Sherry Schumacher, soloist. Interment was in Elmwood Cemetery, Rockford.

Visitation was at the Iten Funeral Home in Delano on July 31, 4-8 p.m. Further visitation was held for one hour prior to the service at the church. Pallbearers were Andy, Michael and Jake Rademacher, Eddie Malecek, Andrew Smith, Bruce Brasseur, Mitchel Pierson and Jim Kartak. Honorary pallbearers: Larry Person, Fred Kettenacker, Harold Larson, Bob McCoy, Donny Bangle and John Staskivige.

Rademacher was born on June 14, 1937, the son of Ernest and Caroline (Ellefson) Rademacher, in Willmar. He met Patricia Mae Malecek in October 1985 and they were wed on Feb. 16, 1994, in Las Vegas, Nev. He restored old buggies and he enjoyed the old Western movies, as well as traveling and camping. He was a past president of the Rockford Lions Club and owner of JR Installation. He completed his carpentry apprenticeship in 1964. Originally he started and owned Hip Construction and Rademacher Sales and Installation in Rockford. At one time he worked as building inspector for the city of Greenfield.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia of Rockford; sons: Joel (JoAnn) and sons, Andy and Jake, of Buffalo, John (Sandy) and daughter, Megan, of Albertville, daughter, Mary Rademacher and Joseph Field and children, Amber, Desiree, Ashley, Hailey, and Clayton of Maple Lake; brother, Michael and Judy Rademacher of Mesa, AZ; sisters, Susan Narum of Anoka, Jane (Larry) Persons of Coon Rapids, Sally Pierson of Blaine; mother- and father-in-law, Edward and Louise Malecek of Delano; brothers- and sisters-in-law: Edward L. “Butch” and Martha Malecek of Delano, Theodore “Ted” and Debbie Malecek of Santa Claus, IN, David Malecek of Sioux Falls, SD, Michael Malecek of Delano, Steven Malecek of Petaluma, CA, Jon (Patty) Malecek of Maple Plain, Jacquelyn and Larry Smith of Hutchinson, Mary and Alan Spears of Tulsa, OK, Jean (Don) Hayes of Montrose and Terry and Daryl Foss of Elk River; many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and daughter, Beth Zahler.

Arrangementswere by Iten Funeral Home, Delano.