John A. Radka

John A. Radka died on Thursday, Oct. 23, at Harbor Village Assisted Living in Greendale, Wis. John was a native of Bloomington, Ill., and a more recent resident of Champaign after his retirement of 24 years as assistant superintendent of business and operations for the Woodstock schools.

He was born in Bloomington to John and Anna Mulgrue Radka and graduated from Central Catholic High School, where he participated in all major sports and dramatics. He was also an active member of Bloomington’s two theater groups, The Community Players and the Playcrafters. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Illinois State University, a Certificate of Advanced Study from Western Illinois University, and he pursued additional graduate study at the University of Colorado, Boulder. A Korean War veteran, he began his educational career upon being discharged from the military and his teaching and administrative experience included all levels of public education.

Survivors include children, Claire Sweeten of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Richard (Natalia) Radka of Barcelona, Spain, Michael (Sally) Radka of Greendale, Wis., Grayson (Lynda) Reuter of Crystal Lake, and Suzi (Tom) Siciliano of Broomfield, Colo; a brother-in-law, Bill (Sharon) Nye of McHenry; 10 grandchildren, Jordan Sweeten of White Pines, Tenn., Jon, Alison, and Ryan (Kelly) Sweeten of Newport, Tenn., Nicole (John) Morrow of McHenry, Luke Siciliano of Broomfield, Colo., Leila (Jason) Martina of San Marcos, Texas, Justin Reuter of Cary, Calvin Radka of Fitchburg, Wis., and Noah (Lauren) Radka of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and great-grandchildren, Tyler and Ava Sweeten of White Pines, Tenn., Avery Sweeten of Newport, Tenn., Jared, J.T. and Steve Morrow of McHenry. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sally; a daughter, Cindi Harvey; and son-in-law, Steve Harvey.

As president of the Illinois Association of School Business Officials, he led one of six pilot school districts which introduced program accounting to the schools of Illinois, later mandated for all Illinois public schools in 1980. He also pioneered the beginning of the school financial report card program that is now used in Illinois, as well as having received the “award of merit” from the State Board of Education in 1991. He was past president of the Woodstock Rotary Club and the Champaign Urbana Area Serra Club. In addition, he was a member of the Illinois Retired Teachers’ Association and past member of the World Wide and United Marriage Encounter Communities and the Rockford Diocese Remarriage Ministry Team.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at Resurrection Catholic Church, 2918 Country Club Road, Woodstock, with interment at Crystal Lake Memorial Park, 8012 Ridgefield Road, Crystal Lake. Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m., with the memorial service beginning at 11 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ul Foundation/JASW, with memo section reading Sally Reuter Radka Memorial Endowed Fund. Mail to Jane Addams College of Social Work (MC 309), Attn: Advancement, 1040 West Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607-7134.

Donations may also be made by entering gift designation “UIC Sally Reuter Radka Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund – 12774826” online atpayment.uif.uillinois.edu/campaigns/40463/donations/new

An alternative donation may be made to the Sally Reuter Radka Family Endowed Scholarship at McHenry County College by mailing to Friends of MCC Foundation, 8900 U.S. Route 14, Crystal Lake, IL 60012. Arrangements entrusted to Cardinal Funeral Home of Crystal Lake; for more information, call 815-451-9040 or visit Cardinalfuneral.com.