04/12/2025
As many of you know, our beloved Christine "Chris" Radtke went home to the arms of Jesus on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Chris loved Jesus Christ and wanted to tell as many people as possible about Him.
What could be said or written of Chris? She had the heart of a servant. Both she and her late husband Ron loved Jesus and wanted to serve Him with ever part of their being. They were married for 47 years before he went home to glory on Friday, February 23, 2018 (her birthday). She helped to support him as he traveled to Johnson City, NY in the mid-1980s to attend Practical Bible Training School (now Davis College). They wanted to plant a church, which they did in the form of Victory Bible Church.
She deeply loved her two children Jennifer and Eric "Rick." For those who knew her well there were many tears shed and prayers prayed for them both. She loved them both and longed for them to walk with Jesus.
She loved her church family at Victory Bible Church. She was so blessed to have been one of the vessels that God used to start a church to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. The church, a small, but dedicated group that longed to grow in the Word of God was a big part of her life. The church was ministered to by Pastor Ron Radtke, Pastor Corey Adams, and Pastor Louis Saullo. The church is a lighthouse in the tiny community of Junedale, but it had impacts to other regions of Pennsylvania and beyond. Even when COVID hit in 2020, the church continued to have remote services to help the congregation keep Christ-focused in the midst of the crazy world. The church did community outreach at in Hazleton and Weatherly through local events. In all these areas, Chris was a strong backbone that helped things flow and work. She wanted to know Jesus Christ and make Him known!
She loved her co-workers at Boscov's and the Hazleton community where she had grown up. She was always excited when they had "Friends Helping Friends" as Victory Bible could have a table. It was a fundraiser, but it was never about the money for the church. She was excited she could offer Bibles, Gospels of John, and tracts. She was always "spreading the chicken feed" wherever she went.
As she watched her house burned down on Monday, January 20, 2020, she held her Bible and her dog Winnie praising the LORD that she, Jen, and Winnie got out. Everything else was temporary. She was laying up treasures in Heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Neither will they burn.
She clung to the hope of Jesus Christ. When she was younger she knew she was a sinner. She knew that going to church, doing good works, praying, giving money to a church, or even being baptized would not get her into Heaven. She needed Jesus Christ. She by faith put her whole life into what Jesus did on the cross. He knew that He had died for her and paid for her sins. She needed to trust that and accept it! She also believed that Jesus rose again 3 days later from the grave! She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt where she was going to be the moment she took her last breath on Wednesday, April 9. She took her last breath here on earth and woke up in the presence of her LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ! She would want to make sure every person who remembers her, grieves and mourns for her would know Jesus Christ and their personal Savior too. Many of you she has been praying for years or decades to come to Jesus Christ.
Thank you, Chris for living for Jesus. Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your LORD.
A memorial service to celebrate and remember her life will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 10 AM at Krapf & Hughes Funeral Home, 530 W Butler Dr, Drums, PA 18222.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made out to Victory Bible Church and sent to PO Box 75 Weston, PA 18256.
