Virgil Raddatz
Virgil Raddatz, age 84 of Wheaton, Minnesota, passed away Sunday, May 28, 2026.
Visitation for Virgil Raddatz will be held Thursday, June 4, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton, Minnesota.
Visitation will continue from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton, MN.
Memorial services for Virgil Theodore Raddatz will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton, MN, with Rev. Anthony Ahrendt officiating.
Virgil Theodore Raddatz was born on January 30, 1942, in Graceville, Minnesota to Theodore Emil and Esther Louisa (Froehlich) Raddatz. He was baptized at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Dumont. Virgil was 2 years old when his family moved to the family farm 6 miles east of Dumont. He attended country school, approximately 1½ miles from the farm, through grade 6. At that time the country school consolidated with the Herman Community School. Notably, the old country school building was later moved from its location to Herman and used as a bus garage. He graduated from Herman High School in 1960. On June 17, 1967, he was united in marriage to Sharon Jean Gamerdinger at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Tomah, Wisconsin.
Virgil lived and worked on the family dairy since he was 2 years old. Following his marriage, he and Sharon took ownership of the family farm. After the dairy barn was destroyed by fire in January 1991, Virgil began working in the livestock division at the West Central Experiment Station in Morris in 1993. He worked there until his retirement in October 2010. In 2023, Virgil’s youngest son, Bryan, purchased the family farm, and Virgil and Sharon moved to Wheaton. In August 2025, Virgil moved into Countryside Inn & Memory Care in Rosholt, SD. At that time, Virgil acquired an extended family of exceptional caregivers. Virgil was surrounded by his family and Countryside Inn caregivers until his final breath.
Virgil woke up ready for a hard day’s work alongside his family. When time allowed for fun, it typically included short trips, including road trips to Pomme de terra Park in Morris to swim in the manmade swimming pond, supper at Ike’s Chicken Shack and watching old-time movies after the first cutting of hay, Fourth of July fireworks at Wheaton Fair Grounds, an annual winter getaway weekend at the Sunwood Inn in Morris, nighttime horseback rides with flashlights, and camping trips to state park horse camps. Many camping adventures were kept close to home so chores could still be done. That love of camping and family time continues today through his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Virgil was involved in his church and community. He participated in the Walther League and even served as Regional President. He also served as a Sunday School teacher and was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church Council. Additionally, he sat on the DHIA Board and Mid-America Dairy Board.
Virgil was an active member and leader of the Traverse County 4-H program, passing his passion on to his children and community members. He will be remembered for all the dairy cattle he brought to the Traverse County Fair throughout the years, Regional Dairy Shows, and demonstration workshops for both local and regional 4-H youth.
Virgil had a lifelong passion for dairy cattle. He especially enjoyed showing and marketing registered dairy animals, and the registered “Dollyra Holsteins” prefix became well known from Washington to Pennsylvania, Canada to Mexico, and even Saudi Arabia. Virgil also loved to travel throughout the United States. In retirement, he especially treasured attending his grandchildren’s activities — school events, church programs, and anything that inspired the words, “Let’s go.”
Virgil is survived by his spouse Sharon Raddatz of Wheaton, MN; his children: Lorine Raddatz of Ostrander, MN, Aileen (Gary) Grimms of Fergus Falls, MN, Warren (Rachael) Raddatz of Krakow, WI, Marlene (Curt) Bradbury of Bismarck, ND, Nadine (Duane) Iverson of Fargo, ND, and Bryan (Peggy) Raddatz of Wheaton, MN; grandchildren: Travis (Shelby) Raddatz and their children Addison and Raylin; Madison and Mason Raddatz; Victoria (Ryan) Leu, Brandi (Nicholas) Reck and their children Isaiah and William; Jacob Adekunle; Raylee (Todd) Mesa and their children Braiden, Violet and Vincent; Melodie (Cole Campbell) SanGrait and their children Konnor and Ellie Campbell; Julia SanGrait and Bryan Raddatz Jr.; two sisters: Darlene Pasche of Morris, MN, and Linda Lee Lattimer of Little Falls, MN; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.
Virgil was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son: Lowel, four sisters: Ila Mae Wendt, Delores Moerer, Hildred Issendorf, and Lorraine Rixe.
Arrangements are with the Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton, MN.
