Helmut Radtke's Obituary
Helmut Alfred Radtke, Born January 15, 1924, in Elbing, East Prussia, to Karl and Elfiede (Neiss) Radtke. Died suddenly on May 18, 2010, in Millbrae, California. Preceded in death in 1999 by his wife, Heidi (Sommerfeld) Radtke, and his younger brother Horst Radtke, who tragically went missing and was never heard from again at the end of the Second World War. He was drafted into the Wehrmacht and served on the Russian Front during the war. Sometime in 1944, during his last leave home from the Russian Front, he was baptized into the Church of Latter Days Saints and he was an active member of the LDS Church until his health deteriorated and prevented him from attending services.After returning to the front in 1944, he was taken prisoner by the Red Army and spent the next 18 months in a Soviet Labor Camp. Upon returning to post-war revenged Germany, he met his future wife and they fell deeply in love. The couple soon married and immigrated to the United States, settling in Salt Lake City, Utah. The couple remained married for 49 years until his wife's untimely death.After settling in Salt Lake City, he went to work repairing B-52 Bombers at Hill Air Force Base. When the airlines began expanding their operations with jet aircraft, he was hired by United Airlines and relocated to Belmont, CA. He retired from United in 1988 after spending 32 years working on aircraft.But his greatest passion was the pursuit of knowledge. He was a voracious reader and once confided that he would have loved to work as a librarian. A kind and loving husband and father and friend to all who knew him, is survived by his children, Dennis Radtke of Millbrae, CA, Norbert Radtke of Winston/Salem, NC, and Stanley Radtke of San Anselmo, CA; and by his grandchildren, Shalia, Daniela, Douglas, and Katarina.A closed family memorial will be held at the Deseret Mortuary in Salt Lake City, Utah. Interment will follow at City Cemetery.
What’s your fondest memory of Helmut?
What’s a lesson you learned from Helmut?
Share a story where Helmut's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Helmut you’ll never forget.
How did Helmut make you smile?