Frances Lenore Radke Leick, 85, passed away in peace and love surrounded by her immediate family on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026 at Marshfield Medical Center. She was born on August 15th, 1941 in Auburndale, WI to John and Emma Frodl (Junemann). She is preceded in death by her parents, her husbands Dennis Radke and Gilbert Leick, her sisters Dorothy (Greg) Manney and Phyllis Frodl, and in-laws Charlotte Frodl (Knoeck) and Greg Manney. She is survived by her siblings Rosemary (Richard) Haigh, Jerry (Nancy) Frodl, and Donald (Charlotte) Frodl. She is further survived by her sons, Mark (Leslie) Radke, Mike (Kelly) Radke, Craig Radke, and Brian Radke, grandchildren Michael Radke Jr., Emma Radke (Joshua Karl) and Luke (Jena) Radke, and her great-granddaughter Madeline Mae Radke.

Frances grew up on the family’s dairy farm and loved being outdoors observing nature all her life. Native songbirds were her most favored companions, especially her cardinals. If you ever need a word with her, she will surely be with the birds. Dennis and Frances were married on June 18th, 1960, and started their family in Kenosha. Eventually, they settled in Stratford, where Frances remained a fixture of the community for 60 years.

All her life, Frances’ best friends were her family. She was bandmates with her brother Donald in the Don Frodl Orchestra, best fishing buddies with her brother-in-law Greg, dear friend of her brother Jerry and sisters-in-law, Chucky and Nancy, and was generally in cahoots as often as she could be with her sisters Dorothy, Rosemary and Phyllis. She enjoyed fishing, playing cards, and getting up to shenanigans with her first husband and high school sweetheart, Dennis. These hobbies and minor vices she passed down to her sons with whom she loved spending her time. With her second husband, Gilbert, Frances created her well-known forest haven filled with the songbirds, squirrels, chipmunks, and deer who came to know the couple as their special friends, too. She was card partners with her grandsons and piano partners with her granddaughter. She cherished the relationships she forged with the Leick children through the end of her life as well.

She shared her gift for music with her community by playing her accordion in local festivals, parades, and nursing homes. She was forever tapping her fingers and bouncing her knee, keeping time with the many, many polka songs she knew by heart. She was an avid supporter of Stratford’s athletic teams, of which her grandson Luke was a decorated wrestler and football player. She attended St Joseph’s Church, and was married to Gilbert there on August 11th, 2000. Her Catholic faith sustained and guided her from birth, through her final hours when she was looking forward to seeing all the loved ones that went before her at the big polka party Upstairs.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Frances on Wednesday, April 8th at St. Joseph’s Church in Stratford, WI. Attendees are encouraged to wear Cardinal Red in her honor. Rosary service will begin at 9:30 a.m., Visitation at 10:00 a.m., and Funeral Mass at 12:00p.m. She will be laid to rest next to her husband Dennis at Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery, with luncheon to follow at Country Aire. A livestream of the service will be available on Frances’ obituary page at rembsfh.com.

May her memory be a blessing to all those who will love and miss her until we meet again.