Cyril H. Rademacher

Cyril H. Rademacher

October 13, 1933 – November 25, 2021

 Survived by wife, Marie T. Rademacher; children: Cheri Lopez (Leonard), Matthew (Natalie), Leigh Cheloha (Jack), and Carol Hamilton; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.

VISITATION: Tuesday, Nov. 30^th from 5pm to 7pm at the West Center Chapel, followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm.  MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Wednesday, December 1^st at 10:30am, Mary Our Queen Catholic Church, 3405 S. 118^th St.  Graveside Service with Military Honors: Wednesday, 2pm, Omaha National Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to Wounded Warriors Project.

To view live broadcasts of the Vigil Service, Mass, and Graveside Service, please go to www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Cast” button on the home page.

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Cy Rademacher drove his last big rig on November 25, 2021, Thanksgiving morning so he was not forced to witness his favorite Detroit Lions lose to the Chicago Bears.  Born Cyril Henry Rademacher on Friday the 13^th in October 1933 just outside Beal City, Michigan, to Gerred and Merita (Albar) Rademacher, Cy was a true country boy who grew up in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Cy also adored his only sibling, older brother Norman Rademacher.

After his family suggested he go to the hospital (by showing up at his house and refusing to take no for an answer), Cy spent the last week of his eighty-eight years in NMC’s cardiology unit and the Josie Harper Residence at the Hospice House. Just as Cy always walked the line taking care of his family, they stayed at his bedside (even though he told them to leave) while he practiced his dry wit, spun hilarious stories, prayed the rosary, and endeared himself to the staff.

Cy was not a gentle man, but he was a kind and fair man. Cy loved God, his wife of 60 years (Marie), family, friends, Johnny Cash tunes, food, Jim Beam bourbon, driving semi-trucks, reading, beer, football, baseball, and the symphony, likely though not necessarily, in that order.

Only Cy’s work ethic rivaled his love of family and God.  He drove a semi across the country for over 60 years at least a thousand miles from nowhere and always had a book and a rosary with him to stay out of that burning ring of fire. Cy finally decided to retire from driving big rigs in 2015 after suffering a mini stroke on a vacation to Washington (he knew this because his family showed up at his house and refused to leave until he went to the hospital). Cy was especially proud of travelling to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico just in case one of its statehood campaigns succeed. He even documented his Alaska Highway drive.

Cy quit high school to run his dad’s gas station (not of his own volition). He earned his GED in the army and insisted his children graduate from college. The question was not if but how his kids would pay for college. Cy was notoriously frugal, so he was not an option. This weekend, his family celebrated him by taking his over 50-year-old office chair, with one wheel-less leg precariously perched on a 4×6, to the dump and then ordering Bueno Burgers and beer at the original Goldberg’s, and a few may have imbibed shots of Jim Beam.

Cy is survived by his beloved and tolerant wife, Marie (Nowicki), his son Matt Rademacher (Natalie), and daughters Cheri Lopez (Leonard), Leigh Cheloha (Jack), and Carol Hamilton. He is also survived by grandchildren, Megan Savoie (Ari) , Brandon Savoie (Becca), Allyson Schmit (Gerald), Morgan Rademacher, Jason Rademacher, Sedona Cheloha, Jaden Cheloha, Scarlett Hamilton, and Violet Hamilton, as well as great-grandchildren Sophia/Jay Savoie, Remy Bigeleisen, and Zoey Schmit.

Cy will be sorely missed by all who knew him and not soon forgotten. He’s on the road again,
going places that he’s never been.