Dietrich James Wilke

Dietrich James Wilke 

Adikoons

"Little Elk"

Dietrich "Dee/Dieter" James Wilke, age 36, crossed over to the Spirit World on October4, 2026. Dietrich was born on May 21, 1990, in Stillwater, MN to Michael Wilke and Kathy Denman-Wilke. His German grandmother chose Dietrich, named after the German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who exemplified extraordinary courage and love for others, and his American Indian grandfather gave him the name of Adikoons(Little Elk), as he was the youngest of all his cousins and brothers and loved to run and play in nature. 

Dietrich attended school in Stillwater, meeting his future wife, Meghan, at Stillwater High School where they both graduated in 2008. During high school, Dietrich received an internship with the Migizi Organization in Minneapolis to work at Fox News during the summer. This internship, along with his job at Stillwater Valley Access, set the course of Dietrich's future in filming, communication and media. Dietrich attended Century College and graduated from the University of Minnesota Morris on May 9, 2014, with a Bachelor of Arts. During college years, Dietrich and Meghan were able to travel and live and work for short times in Big Sky, Montana and New Zealand, where they stayed for three months and worked with the organic farming program. After college, Dietrich accepted a marketing and communication position, later becoming a supervisor at Personify Health. Dietrich was also able to create his own media company, Full Frame Media, LLC, through a grant with the Tiwahe Foundation.

Dietrich and Meghan were married on July 29, 2017. They settled into their home in Stillwater, MN but continued their lust of travel, spending time with family in Germany. Dietrich was also able to travel often through work, spending time in London, Rhode Island, Florida, California, Arizona, and Texas. Dietrich and Meghan started growing their beautiful family, welcoming Ophelia Lou Wilke on February 13, 2020, and August Duke Wilke on November 23, 2023.

Dietrich's love of life, people, the outdoors, adventure, and sports were always palpable. He enjoyed snowboarding, golf, rock climbing, cross country skiing, soccer, basketball, hunting (which he learned from his father-in-law), biking, you name it. Dietrich always had a core group of friends he held dearly to adventure with, travel with, and simply be his goofy and fun-loving self alongside.

Dietrich is survived by his wife, Meghan Radke; their two children, Ophelia Lou Wilke and August Duke Wilke; his parents, Michael Wilke and Kathy Denman- Wilke; his brothers, Zachary Wilke and Travis Wilke; his aunt and uncle, Claudia and Bill Bruhn's; his aunt, Dee White Eye; his cousins, Anna Bruhn, Emily Bruhn, Jessie (wife Michelle)Bruhn, Nathan (wife Lisa) Bruhn, Paula (husband Jordon) Gravatt, Angela (husband Rory) Mckernan, and Jake (wife Carissa) Worthington. In addition, Michael and Kathy have a godchild, Sara Mowchan (husband Jake Kremer) and Kathy has two namesakes, Chanella (husband Alex) Godinez, and Mallory Towle (partner Kurt). There are numerous second and third cousins.

Dietrich was very close to Meghan's parents, Tim and Jean Radke; Meghan's sister, Nanci Radke and husband Carl Cunningham, and their two children, Forest and Arlo Cunningham, whom are Ophelia and August's "bestie" cousins. They spent many special moments together traveling to their cabin in the north woods.

Dietrich will continue to be loved and missed by many. Although his life was short, he and Meghan lived it to the fullest.