Dorothy Fiore Radke Triggs

Triggs, Dorothy Fiore Radke MADISON Mrs. Dorothy Fiore Radke Triggs, age 83, passed away on Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at HospiceCare, after a brief hospital stay. Born on Jan. 18, 1925, to Sam and Emma (Henke) Fiore, Dorothy was very proud to grow up on Sprague Street during the heyday of Madisons Greenbush neighborhood, playing tennis, enjoying her grandmothers Italian cooking and visits to the family farm in Montello. After graduating from West High School and attending Madison Business College, Dorothy began her career at Madison Newspapers. There she met her beloved print foreman, Warren Radke, whom she married on Dec. 2, 1945. Their dream of owning a small town newspaper was cut short when he passed away 10 years later. Dorothys second husband was high school friend, Raymond Triggs, with whom she raised a large family on Madisons East Side after marrying on May 19, 1962. Together they ran Triggs Home Improvement Company which the family is proud to say serves the community to this day. Mrs. Triggs was a founding member of Lakeview Moravian Church, the Italian Womens Club, a volunteer for Madison Area AIDS Service Organizations, Secretary of WI Citizens Concerned for Life and a passionate advocate for the rights of children and adults with special needs. Dorothy is survived by her children, Emily Radke Sobiek, Gregory (Matt Nolen) Triggs and Raymond "Butch" Triggs II; stepchildren, Susan and Valerie Triggs; grandchildren, Kristina (Tom) Fisher and Josh (Tiffany) Radke; great-grandchildren, Zachary Arthur, Dominick Arthur and Hayden Michael-Joseph; and dear friends, Phil Neis and the Florences, Flo (Clementi) Blazek and Florence Nyborg. A lover of animals, she is also survived by her two cats, Kris and Kringle, a Christmas gift from 18 years ago. She was preceded in death by her parents, Warren Radke and Raymond Triggs; her eldest son, Arthur (Ruth Brown) Radke; and adored family and friends including, Frances Fiore Everson, Ellen Parrell, Mr. and Mrs. Nick Fiore, Jenny Licari and Lillian McKiernan. Funeral services will be held at LAKEVIEW MORAVIAN CHURCH, 3565 Tulane Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m., on Friday, March 14, 2008, with the Rev. John McCarthy presiding. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. The family wishes to thank the 8th floor staff at Meriter Hospital and Pod 6 at the HospiceCare Center. Words cannot express the gratitude felt. You would be hard pressed to find a more devoted mother, wife, daughter or friend than Dorothy. Her home was warm, friendly and open to all. There is no doubt Dorothy Fiore Radke Triggs left the world having made it a much better place.