Theda "Teddy" Radloff

Theda “Teddy” L. Radloff, age 88, of Marquette and longtime Munising resident, died under the loving care of family and OSF Hospice in Escanaba Thursday, October 15, 2026. She was born in Shingleton on September 20, 1938 to George and Alice (Parr) Thayer. When Teddy was two, her mom died leaving George with four young children. While George served in the USMC, the children moved to the Catholic orphanage in Saginaw and were cared for by the Dominican Sisters. When George was on leave, he would gather the kids and hitchhike home to visit family. After George remarried when Teddy was ten, the family moved back to Munising. It was that early upbringing surrounded by unconditional love that planted the seeds of love of the Lord and strong faith in Teddy. She carried her amazing faith and importance of family throughout her entire life. Teddy graduated from Sacred Heart School and then Wm. G. Mather High School in 1956. On August 25, 1957, she married Glenn William Radloff. His career in the Air Force brought them to Canada, Wisconsin, France, Germany, Colorado, Upper Michigan, Ohio, and then ultimately, back to the U.P. Their family was made through faith and adoptive services. Their three greatest gifts came to them as babies from the Catholic orphanages in Wisconsin, Luxembourg, and Colorado. When Glenn retired from the Air Force, the Radloff family returned to their roots in Munising in 1976. Glenn went to work at the Hiawatha Telephone Company, and Teddy went to work for the Munising Public Schools. She was a wonderful teacher’s aide and ran a tight playground and brick wall at recess. The children all knew they were special and loved by Teddy’s influence in their lives.

Teddy was deeply devoted to Sacred Heart Church and her faith family. She served as a Eucharistic Minister and lector, and for eighteen years, she and Glenn opened their home to teach high school religious education. She also helped prepare many couples for marriage through pre-marriage classes at Sacred Heart. Teddy faithfully supported Glenn in his many Knights of Columbus responsibilities and generously gave her time volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul. Her devotion to Mary was especially beautiful and strong, reflecting the depth of her faith. Teddy nurtured her creative spirit through writing poetry and prayers, and playing the guitar as a way to praise the Lord. Her faith was woven into every part of her life, expressed through her service, her creativity, and the love she shared with others.

She loved to read, she learned to paint from Bob Ross, and played in multiple bridge and Mahjong circles throughout her life. She was a natural teacher and passed her card savvy on to both her children and grandchildren. Games and cards were always a part of every family gathering-farkle, hand & foot, cribbage, backgammon, Harry Potter Uno, Mahjong, and Thirty-One. As kind and wonderful of a woman that Teddy was, she was very competitive and was usually in the lead on the running tabs of the numerous card games played by the family.

After retirement, Teddy and Glenn took their games on the road and wintered in Florida and Texas. Their favorite place was Port Aransas, Texas. Teddy would take walks on the beach and talk to the Lord. It was in Texas where Glenn unexpectedly died on January 4, 2001 after forty-three years of marriage. Teddy moved to Marquette a few years later to be closer to her family. Teddy’s faith and love of family never faltered, and she continued to carry on the Radloff family traditions with her children and grandchildren and remained close to her siblings.

Teddy is survived by her children – Bruce (Cheryl) Radloff of Negaunee, Lisa (Ed) Meyers of Gwinn, and Dave (Hope Rudden) Radloff of Escanaba; grandchildren – Daniel (Ashley) Swenor, Nicholas Swenor, Zane Radloff, Kimberlee (Jared) Stenson, and Karissa (Mitch) Dagenais; great grandchildren – Karlie, Paislee, Lane, Evelyn, Millie, Mack, and Kelce; sister – Myrtle Tidd; sister-in-law – Adele Thayer; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Alice and George Thayer, stepmother Ruth, husband Glenn, and brothers George and Van Thayer.

Teddy’s Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Monday, November 9, 2026 at Sacred Heart Church in Munising at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Maple Grove Cemetery and then back to the church for a fellowship gathering. 

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MINE by Teddy Radloff

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MINE TODAY, 

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MINE.

THIS MORNING WHEN I WOKE, 

I CAME TO HIM IN PRAYER, 

HE FILLED ME OF JOY,     

SO GREAT IS OUR GOD.

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MINE TODAY, 

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MINE.

PUT A SMILE UPON YOUR FACE, 

LET THE WORLD KNOW YOU'RE MINE,

SPREAD MY JOY TO OTHERS,

 HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD.

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MINE TODAY, 

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MINE.