This memorial website was created to remember our dearest James "Jim" Radtkey.
Jim began his journey August 31, 1962 and lived 48 years surrounded by loving family and friends before returning home April 27, 2011. He was cherished by his family as a beloved husband, son, father, brother, uncle, nephew, and cousin. Jim is survived by his wife of 22 years Dana (Parmeter) Radtkey, sons Ben and Charles, parents Frederick and Mieko, and brother Harold (Lori).
He will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by his extended family including those in his mother’s homeland of Japan and the many friends he made both far and near. Born and raised in Annapolis, Jim spent his life living and working in the coastal ranges of northwestern Sonoma County and southwestern Mendocino County. He was renowned for his skill operating heavy equipment, and worked for Parmeter Logging & Excavation for more than 20 years. When Jim wasn’t working magic with heavy equipment, he could be found hunting or hiking in the woods he loved.
A kind spirit and merry prankster, Jim cherished time spent with family and friends who remember him as always ready to pitch in when there was work to be done. He was passionate about local Native American history, devoting hours to the study of local tribal groups. Jim enjoyed raising working dogs, sheep, cattle, and horses with his family, and served on the Cloverdale Ram Sale Committee for 9 years. Always a happy person, Jim’s ready smile, quick wit, and gentle nature will be forever missed by all who knew him or ever crossed his path.
A celebration of Jim’s life was held on May 7, 2011, at his home. Jim's family would like to thank for your kind expression of sympathy.
The family requests donations in his name be made to American Heart Association or National Cancer Institute.
Happy trails, Jim.
| Lacie and Kyle Doughty with kalo and Joey Doughty |
Missing my uncle Jim |
May 9, 2017 |
" The story of life
Comes and then gos ...
As quick as the wink
Of the eye......
The story of love is ......
Hello and then goodbye....
Until we meet again"
Love you to the moon and back 100 ×
Thinking about you today. Miss you uncle.
| Harold & Lori Bean Radtkey |
Jim |
April 29, 2014 |
Brother Jim,
Three years have passed since you left us and not a day goes by that you are not in it... And life goes on...but the world was such a better place when you were here...We miss you so very much...Hope you found the beer and the chew we left for you yesterday...You are always with us...
Missing you, Harold & Lori
| Dwight Petersen |
First Day Of School |
July 3, 2012 |
On the first day of school at Horicon, our mothers brought all the new first graders to school, my mom brought my brother Mark and Mrs. Radtkey brought Harold, Jim came along of course. Jim was probably three years old and was wide eyed at all the excitement going on what with kids playing games and running all around. Harold had been sticking pretty close to his mom during the signing up process as he wasn't too sure about being alone with all these strangers. Well when it came time for the mothers to leave, poor Harold started to cry, he wanted to go home. That's when little brother Jimmy stepped up to the plate, with his chest thrown out and in a voice loud enough for all to hear he stated "Aww Let Him Go Home Mom, I'll Stay".
In his mind he had saved his brother any further torment and he would get to play with these other kids all day! Sacrafice and Reward, The making of a fine man.
We shall all miss you Jim, but we'll see you again one day. Dwight
My condolences to everyone in the Radtkey and Parmeter families upon the passing of Jim; especially to wife, Dana; sons, Ben and Charles; father and mother, Fred and Mieko; and brother, Harold.
Jim, I pray that you have already been with your grandmother, Pearl. She was a grandmother for me as well.
As time goes on, there are fewer and fewer people who have had the experience of being in, or raised in, a family associated with livestock or lumber, or both. I doubt that 1% of the people that makeup the generations after ours, even have a clue about setting chokers or sacking wool. But, we still do.
My best anecdote about Jim goes back to June, 1973, when Jim, Harold, and I were kids. Six of us; myself, my dad Don M., cousin Jack, Fred, Harold, and Jim went to Candlestick Park to see the Giants play a doubleheader with Houston. Yeah, we saw a few of the all-time greats that day - Juan Marichal, who pitched in relief; Willie McCovey, who homered; and Barry's dad, Bobby Bonds, who also homered! But, that's not what I remember.
Each one of us kids, somehow, broke up the routine that day. I got carsick on the way home. Harold dumped the tool box over in the back of the station wagon, and received a firm scolding from Fred. But Jim took the honors for the funniest and most memorable.
On the way to S.F., we stopped and filled up with gas (Santa Rosa?). These were the days when gas pumps had small, manual levers that would reset the gallons pumped and the money owed amounts back to zero. None of this fancy, computerized hardware of today. I don't know whether Jim did it on purpose or not, but he tripped the lever on the pump just before the tank was full!!! I don't remember how the gas attendant and Fred came up with a total, but I do remember Jim embarrassed at what he'd done, and Fred, livid at Jim for messing around with the pump! The rest of us had a good laugh over it later. Hey, he was just trying to save you some money, Fred!
Hey, Jim, wherever you are now, with gas prices going out of sight . . . Could you please make that happen again?!
Later,Bro!
