Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Maryellen Radloff, 74, died at home on December 18. The entry to her beautiful life occurred early in 1950 in Pittsburgh; the daughter of Theodore Paul and Eleanor Frances (Ulam) Kruper. They lived in Pittsburgh and various places over the years including New York City, Cleveland and Toledo. She graduated from Maumee Valley Country Day School before briefly attending Chatham College in Pittsburgh, followed by Franconia College in New Hampshire, where she received her associate degree in English literature. Later, she attended Gogebic Community College, earning her LPN certificate. She married John Radloff in Ironwood, Michigan in 1976 on Memorial Day weekend. She worked at Ashland Memorial Medical Center for several years in the OB-GYN/Pediatrics/Nursery departments. Over the years they lived in Ironwood, MI and Park Falls, WI before putting down deep roots in Marinette. In all of these places, she oversaw a home filled with love dedicated to both her family and friends. After moving to Marinette, she worked at B. Dalton Bookseller and Spies Public Library before retiring in 2016. They enjoyed more than 48 blessed years of love, companionship, and adventures. She was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Marinette for the past 33 years, where she was active in Sew for Missions and fellowship activities. She was a co-founder of Northwoods Quilters.
The essence of Maryellen was so much greater. Her home was an ever-expanding library; books were a passion as she was a voracious reader. She was an accomplished quilter with a keen eye for pattern and composition; an avid gardener of flowers and vegetables; a consummate baker of countless varieties of breads, pastries, pies, and cookies. She was a gourmet cook skilled in comfort cooking, Thai, Italian, Chinese, French cuisines, and recently dabbling in Korean. She had a sharp, intelligent, discerning mind, combined with a biting wit. She was extremely organized, thanks to her broad array of lists; books to read, shows and movies to watch, places to visit, and foods to try. She was kind, generous and loving to a fault. Most of all, Maryellen was devoted and loving to her spouse and children. Her home was a haven; always a place of calm, peace, laughter, and love for family and friends. While Maryellen savored the tranquility of home, she loved traveling the United States, Canada, and Spain. Collecting artisanal pottery and eye-catching rocks was a part of every trip. Museums, art, music, and current affairs were intrinsic to her life. Wisconsin Public Radio was always on, with an ear attuned to news, music, stories of interest, also quiz and trivia shows. She was a decade-long season ticket holder to the opera at the Overture Center in Madison. Her passion for quilting was a favorite hobby, attending quilt shows regularly, participating in the church’s Sew For Missions group and creating her own works. She followed weather news locally and nationally, and absolutely loved a big thunderstorm or blizzard. The natural world drew her in many ways, whether hiking, watching a sunrise or sunset, canoeing, cross country skiing, bird watching, and rock collecting. Summer evenings were best spent sitting on the patio at the end of the day with John, enjoying the tranquility of the back yard while sipping a Mojito made with fresh mint from the garden. Crossword puzzles, sudoku, kenken, and reading kept her mind active in those rare moments of the day when she sat down. Although she and John didn’t fish often, she was hooked on it by catching a ten pound Northern on a fly rod on her first outing.
Maryellen is survived by her husband John; elder son Michael, daughter-in-law Tasha, granddaughter Zahra; younger son Jesse; nephew and nieces Julia, Jonathan, Kate, and their spouses and children; and many dear and close friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Paul, and stillborn son Andrew.
Visitation was held at Zion Lutheran Church in Marinette, Wisconsin on Saturday, December 28th, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. with memorial service at 11:00 a.m., Pastor Douglas Schoen officiating.
Hansen-Onion-Martell funeral home is assisting the family.
