Daily Sitka Sentinel

Arleen Murial Radichel, Of Sitka, Dies at Age 98

Arleen Murial Radichel

Our gracious Lord called Arleen Murial Radichel (nee Hanke) into her eternal rest on Nov. 19, 2020, at the age of 98 years, four days.

Arleen was born to Gustav Carl Wilhelm Hanke and Viola Margarethe Auguste Hanke (nee Rohde) on Nov. 15, 1922, in Maple Creek, Wisconsin. The Holy Spirit brought her to faith in the water of Baptism at Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in New London, Wisconsin, on Dec. 31, 1922.

At the same church, she was confirmed in her faith on April 5, 1936,  and married Leland “Lee” Carl Radichel there on Oct. 29, 1944.

Arleen is survived by her brother Delford “Del” Hanke of Wilmington, North Carolina; her daughters, Sandy Smith and Sharon Radichel, both of Prescott, Arizona, and Karen Clausen and Laurie (James) Schwark, both of Sitka; grandchildren Johanna Schwark of Sitka and David (Coryn) Schwark of Chesapeake, Virginia; great-grandson Daniel Lee Schwark of Chesapeake, Virginia; and sister-in-law Virginia Radichel of Hortonville, Wisconsin.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee; her infant son, Larry Lee; and her parents.

Arleen grew up helping her parents at the family chick hatchery. Her next job was as a checker at Kroger. She attended Oshkosh Business College, learning the skills she used as office clerk at the Edison Baby Furniture factory.

Arleen liked to recall her honeymoon in Wisconsin Dells, which she and Lee were able to enjoy despite World War II wartime restrictions. She continued to work at Edison Baby Furniture until the birth of her son Larry. In His great wisdom, the Lord took Larry to be with him shortly after birth.

Arleen’s family grew quickly with the birth of Sandy, followed soon after by the birth of the twins.

In 1952, Arleen, Lee and the girls moved to San Bernardino, California, where they remained for about 10 years before moving to Anaheim, California. There, Arleen and the family were treated to sights which included the annual Rose Bowl Parade, the building of Disneyland, and the building of a new family business, California Camper Sales in Orange, California. The years of running the camper sales business allowed the family to enjoy Yosemite, Prescott, Arizona, and much more in the company of the three camping clubs they started. Those camping outings planted the seed for Arleen and Lee’s retirement in Prescott, where they built their dream home.

At length, age led them to move in with their daughter Laurie and her family. Arleen moved to Sitka with Laurie and her family in 2018.

Arleen enjoyed raising her four girls and sewing all their clothes. She enjoyed the camping and wintering in Emerald Cove; she played Sheephead with friends weekly for years. And she loved her grandchildren.

Arleen’s funeral arrangements were on Nov. 30, 2020, at, yes, Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, New London, Wisconsin. Interment was at the Floral Hills Cemetery in New London.