Meda J. Radley

Long time Rural resident, Meda J. Radley, 94, Waupaca, passed away on Thursday March 3, 2011. Meda was born on July 7, 1916, in Kansas, the daughter of William and Hansena (Olson) Anderson. Meda moved to Rural in January of 1936 to work.

Meda married the late Forrest Radley on Oct. 24, 1936. She was a cook in the school lunch program at Golden Hill School in Rural, where she and a friend pioneered the program there. She was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Ruth circle, Mission Worker, the Gorgonas Club of Rural, of which she had served as president, Rural Cemetery Association, of which she was secretary for 25 years, and a charter member of the Rural Historical Society.

Meda lived in Rural all her married life except for one year. She enjoyed gardening and maintained a large flowerbed each year to share some of God's beauty with others.

Meda is survived by two sons, Richard (Ellen) Radley, Greenville, Wis.; and Paul (Connie) Radley, Waupaca, Wis.; four grandchildren, Michael (Joni) Radley, Waupaca, Wis.; David (Carolyn) Radley, Appleton, Wis.; Steven Radley, Orlando, Fla.; and Jennifer (Michael) Grant, Waupaca, Wis.; six great-grandchildren, Alana Radley, Aavery Grant, Alyssa Grant, Taylor Radley, Forrest Radley and Connor Radley; three step-great-grandchildren, Ashley Lowe, Jared Creaser and Ashley Creaser; two brothers, Carl Anderson and Glenn Anderson; one sister, Ruth Iversen; very dear friends, Monte and Debra McCormick; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Meda was preceded in death by her parents, William and Hansena Anderson; her husband, Forrest Radley; one brother, William Anderson; and one sister, Violet Handschke.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 12 Noon at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Waupaca. Pastor Jennifer DeNetz and Chaplain Wayne Schwanke will officiate. Burial will at the Rural Cemetery in the spring. A visitation will be held on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 12 Noon. The Holly Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Wishes

WISHES
by Margaret Ashmun

I wish we had a little house,
With ivy vines along the wall,
A bright brass knocker on the door,
And leaded fanlight in the hall.

I wish I had a wide old hearth,
Where maple knots would roar and blaze,
And we would sit and drink our tea
An read old books on autumn days.

And we would spread a table here,
With homespun cloth and candlelight,
And we should eat from flowered plates
Hot waffles on a Sunday night.


Rural was the home town of author and poet Margaret Ashmun (c1885-1940).

Blacksmith Wanted

From the Waupaca Spirit, May 8, 1856:

WANTED

A good blacksmith at Rural Village in southwest part of Waupaca County. Also a good shoemaker would find excellent chance in this place. This is decidedly the best opening for a few good Mechanics and Traders in Northern Wisconsin. A first-rate water power and flouring mill will soon be completed and in the centre of a large and excellent farming community with roads centreing from all quarters and a very desirable location for a Town. There is still a few lots for free distribution to actual settlers. For information, address J.H. Jones or L.A. Phelps, Rural, Waupaca Co., Wisconsin.