Mattie Clara (Woods) Rademacher
Our very own “Chatty Mattie”, Mattie Clara (Woods) Rademacher, age 79 of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin died peacefully at home on Sunday, January 15, 2023 in Prairie du Chien. Her parents Letcher and Clara (Shepherd) Woods celebrated her birth at home in New London, Pennsylvania on June 10, 1943. After graduating from high school in Pennsylvania, she went on to attend school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to become an administrative assistant, where she met the love of her life, Roger Rademacher. They were married on June 11, 1966, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City, IA.
Thankfully, Mattie didn’t believe silence was golden, because she, along with her husband “Rambling Rog”, lovingly raised four children in a bustling household.
Capitalizing on her gift of gab and graceful diplomacy, Mattie enjoyed her work as a historical interpreter at the Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien from 1999 - 2019. She served on the Board of Directors at Crossing Rivers Hospital where she established the Dr. Roger C. Rademacher Memorial Scholarship, to advance clinical skills for rural healthcare professionals in honor of her late husband. She was also a member of the Eagle’s Club Women’s Auxiliary, participated in the choir at St. Johns Catholic Church of the Holy Family Parish, volunteered at the Carriage Classic, and Community Theater. She especially loved attending the “Twentieth Century Study Club”, a book club formed with a cherished group of friends. Mattie’s Catholic faith was important to her and she often said, “according to Saint Augustine, to sing is to pray twice.” If that is true, Mattie was in constant prayer with her lilting voice singing a joyful song echoing through her house as she went about her day, and leading family in song on long road trips. It was how her family knew she was happy.
She is deeply loved and missed by her children Amy (Dennis) Montgomery, Polly (Judson) Kadolph, Wendy (Alex) Willox, and Mark (Emily) Rademacher; her grandchildren Alexandria Dettbarn, Collin, Madison, and Corbin Montgomery, Garrett and Jenna Kadolph, Tavis Willox, Johannah and Josie Rademacher; and her great-grandchildren Olivia Montgomery and Finn Dettbarn. Surely, Mattie is singing, dancing on tables, and sipping hurricanes with her beloved husband Roger Rademacher, as they are reunited in heaven, along with her parents, siblings Janice Mills, Arnold and Roger Woods; and grand-daughter Michaela Joy.
A Memorial Mass of Resurrection will be Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 10:30 A.M. at St. John’s Church of the Holy Family Parish, Msgr. Charles Stoetzel officiating with private inurnment at a later date in the Calvary Cemetery, both in Prairie du Chien. Friends may call at the Garrity Funeral Home on Friday, February 3, 2023, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Friends may also call at the church on Saturday from 9:30 A.M. until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Crossing Rivers Health and Holy Family Parish. www.garrityfuneralhome.com
