Winnie went to her heavenly home on November 30, 2022. She was 99 years, 10 months and 10 days old.
She was born on January 19, 1923 in Embarrass, Wis., to Fred and Myrtle (nee: Hanson) Breed. She was baptized on February 10, 1924. She grew up in Embarrass, where her father operated a service station. She grew up as the oldest of seven children after an older brother died as a toddler. She was prom queen and graduated from Clintonville High School in 1941. After World War II broke out she joined the Marine Corps, rising to become a sergeant. She was stationed at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California.
On November 2, 1946 she married Ken Raddant. They moved around during their early years together while Ken played minor league baseball. After Ken retired from baseball, they moved to Milwaukee in August of 1953. They raised four children: Judie (Steve) Kleinmaier, Penny Raddant, Jerry (Vicki) Raddant, and Cindy (George) Elleseg. Winnie was mostly a stay-at-home mom, though she also worked part time for many years in the Sears customer service department. She and Ken enjoyed 36 years together until he died of prostate cancer on their wedding anniversary in 1982. Fifteen years later she married Bill Reineking, a widower she had met through St. John’s Lutheran Church. Bill and Winnie enjoyed square dancing and traveled a bit. Bill died January 14, 2008. He was 87.
In addition to three of her children, Winnie is survived by four stepchildren: Sue (Jeff) Ressel, Peggy (Jim Clark) Reineking, Patty (Jeff) Werner, Dan (Beth) Reineking; sister Milly Ritchie; sisters-in-law Arlene Breed, Marilyn Krause, and Nina Breed; nine grandchildren: Bryan (Tracy) Kleinmaier, Karen (Scott) Erstad, Dan (Emma Frankham) Kleinmaier, Bonnie (Mark) Fahning, Katie (Patrick) Moore, Meg (Paul) Scheussler, Ann (Nathan Cox) Raddant, Laura Elleseg, and Monica Elleseg. She is also survived by 16 great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends.
Besides her husbands, she was predeceased by her daughter Penny, grandchild Carrie Elleseg, and great-grandchild Emily Kleinmaier.
She was a longtime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. She was active in the Ladies Aid, serving a term as president.
Visitation will be held Saturday, December 10, 2022 at St John’s Lutheran Church (6802 W Forest Home Ave, Greenfield) from 10am-11am with a funeral service to follow.
Service will be available on the St. John’s website https://stjohnsmilw.org. Log into the site and select the “Worship Live Stream.”
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St John’s Lutheran Church or a veterans group of your choice.
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