Richard Wathen Rademaker's Obituary
Richard Wathen Rademaker, Sr. of Miromar Lakes, Florida and formerly of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away Wednesday, January 6, 2016 with his loving family by his side. He was 87.Richard was born March 3, 1928 in Louisville, Kentucky to the late Urban and Eleanor Rademaker. He worked as the owner / operator of Rademaker Corporation and Heat Transfer Specialties, Inc. of Louisville, Kentucky. Throughout his many corporate endeavors, he achieved much success through his commitment to excellence and cutting edge advancements. He remains well-respected throughout the industry.He was a retired major in the Kentucky National Guard and enjoyed being active in life. Richard was an avid swimmer and excellent ballroom dancer; a skill set he carried over from his college days where he taught dance classes. Richard was a private pilot with multiple ratings who thoroughly enjoyed flying his Mooney 20 aircraft. Although he achieved many successes throughout his lifetime, he remained humbly devoted to his family and his faith as a life-long and devout member of the Catholic Church. He also shared his family history and life story in his autobiography “Aim High”.Richard is survived by his loving wife of 64+ years, Linda Young Rademaker; his four children, Rhonda Gardner (Bob) of Greenfield, Indiana, Sandy Rademaker-Means (Jerry Means) of Fort Myers, Florida, Richard Rademaker, Jr. (Paulina) of Louisville, Kentucky and Joseph Rademaker (Kathy) of Louisville, Kentucky. He is also survived by his brother, Urban Rademaker, Jr. of Taylorsville, Kentucky; six grandchildren, Jason Gardner, Rick Gardner, Justin Rademaker, Christina Rademaker, Kaitlyn Rademaker and Lexi Rademaker and four great-grandchildren.Visitation for Richard will be 4pm-6pm, Monday, January 11, 2016 in the chapel of Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33907. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00am, Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at St. John XXIII Catholic Church 13060 Palomino Lane, Fort Myers, Florida 33912. Entombment will follow in Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Fort Myers, Florida. Online condolences and memories may be shared on Richard’s tribute page at www.fortmyersmemorial.com.
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