By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer
In 1942, Chester A. Racke was a 16-year-old high school senior beginning his long career in banking as a clerk at the Bank of Alexandria. By 1985, he was president and CEO of the Fort Thomas-Bellevue Bank and the Liberty National Bank.
Mr. Racke died Friday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. The Cold Spring resident was 77.
"He was a very active person and everybody's friend," said his wife of 53 years, Mary Kate Kiefer Racke. "As soon as we moved into these condos, he became 'the mayor' of Springdale Condos. He was just one of those people who drew people to him. He was a great person, husband and father."
He was born in 1926 to Jacob and Margaret Racke of Alexandria and graduated from Campbell County High School in 1943.
His banking career was interrupted when he enlisted in the Army in 1944. He fought in France with the 100th Infantry Division. Among the medals he was awarded were two Bronze Stars with oak leaf cluster, the Soldier's Medal and a Purple Heart.
Mr. Racke returned to banking after the war as an assistant cashier with the Bank of Alexandria.
In 1951, he moved on to the Fort Thomas Bank, where he served in a variety of positions.
In 1985, he was elected to the board of directors of Liberty United Bancorp, the parent holding company for several banks including Fort Thomas Bank. He retired as CEO of Liberty in 1988 and continued with Bank One (which bought out Liberty in the early 1990s) until his resignation in 1999.
Among his many other accomplishments, he served as commander of the Campbell County Post 3205, Veterans of Foreign Wars; was city clerk of Alexandria; commissioner of the Campbell County Water District; and a Kentucky Colonel. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Linda McKee Heil of Columbus, Ohio, and Peggy Bertke of Alexandria; four grandchildren; and his sister-in-law, Dorothy Racke. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, 427 S. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Christ Church United Church of Christ, 15 S. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas.
Memorials: Christ Church United Church of Christ, or the American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, Florence, KY 41042.
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E-mail kandrew@enquirer.com
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