Linda Louise Reilly

FITCHURG - Linda L. (Radtke) Reilly entered into eternal peace in God’s hands on Monday, September 2nd, 2024 after a long battle with health issues to include Parkinson's disease. She was born on August 24th, 1950 to William (Bill) and Betty (Pittz) Radtke in Dodgeville, WI. In her early years, the family moved to Oregon, WI where she was the oldest of her six siblings. She graduated from Oregon High School in 1969. Eventually she met and married her husband, Michael (Mike) Reilly, where they parented the seven children in their blended family.

From her early adult years and into retirement, Linda had a variety of different jobs ending with a proud career at the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. She retired from the DOC in 2005 when her health declined and she was no longer able to work.  

In Linda’s healthier years, she enjoyed a very active social life. Linda’s laugh and smile were as contagious as her warm and loving personality. She and Mike enjoyed many nights out with friends, going to dinner, movies, and out dancing. She could always be found at an event for one of her children; cheering the loudest. Linda enjoyed frequent road trips to variety of places around the country to visit family, friends, and tourist destinations. She also never missed a “Radtke event”; as Linda’s family often gathered to celebrate different occasions. She was a huge Country Music fan and enjoyed attending concerts like Loretta Lynn and Shania Twain. She loved artists like Reba     McEntire, Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood, The Judds, and anything with a good beat that she could dance to.  

Linda was also known for her wardrobe. She always had the perfect outfit put together with the perfect hairstyle to accessorize. To some, she was lovingly known as “June Cleaver” from one of her favorite TV shows, “Leave it to Beaver” as she never had a hair out of place or a wrinkle in a blouse. In her later years, she found solace in watching classic TV shows like “The Andy Griffith Show”, “The Donna Reed Show”, and “The Waltons”.

Linda was also known for her sweet tooth. She enjoyed making Christmas cookies and fudge for family and friends, but she always had to treat herself to some of her other favorites like whipped cream cake and her mother’s famous banana torte.  

When Linda retired, her health issues became the majority of her life. Though her health declined over the years, her love for her family never wavered. She wasn’t always around at family functions, sporting events, or parties, but they all knew she loved them with all her heart. She loved when her grandchildren came to visit and the smile on her face said it all. Linda and Mike’s late German Shepherd, Whitney, had a special place in her heart too.  

We pray that she is now in Heaven with the loved ones she has missed dearly over the years and is free of all the physical pain she had on this Earth. Linda is survived by her devoted husband, Michael, their children, Dean Zingg (Justine Deegan), Richard (Shawn) Reilly, April Reilly, Brent Lukens, Brian (Nicole) Lukens, Christopher (Nisha) Lukens, and Corey (Stephanie) Reilly; her siblings, Bob Radtke, Vicki (Bill) Rowe, Mary Kaye Radtke (Donna Miller), Mark (Maria) Radtke, Jeannette Weber, and Pam (Dale) Christensen; her aunt, (Sister) Alice Pittz; grandchildren, LeQuan Coleman Sr. (Tiffany), Brenttnie Lukens, Noah Lukens, Arianna Lukens, Macallen Reed, Journey Lukens, Abraham Lukens, Keegan Reilly, Evan Reilly, Jocelyn Reilly, Mandi Marqardt, Nick Zingg, Ryan Zingg, Callaway Deegan, Miller Zingg, Michael Reilly, Aaron Reilly, Shea Reilly, Devin Reilly, Abbey Reilly, and Ryan Reilly; and great-grandchildren, De’ion Miles and LeQuan Coleman Jr.  She was preceded in death by her father, Bill Radtke; mother, Betty Radtke; aunts, (Sister) Irene Radtke, Marion O’Brien, and Marge Beer; and uncles, Ray Pittz and Ralph Pittz.   

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at HOLY MOTHER OF CONSOLATION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 651 N. Main St., Oregon, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Oregon. A visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Saturday.

A special note of appreciation to the staff at Nazareth Health and Rehabilitation Center, in Stoughton, WI, for their kindness and care of Linda in her final years with us.

One of Linda’s favorite songs said it best, “Go rest high on that mountain. Son your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin'.  Love for the Father and the Son.”- Vince Gill

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Oregon

Funeral & Cremation Care

1150 Park St.

(608) 835-3515