Wilbur Ratzlaff
GOESSEL - Wilbur Ratzlaff, 98, died
Tuesday (Aug. 10, 2010) at Bethesda Home in Goessel.
He was born July 13, 1912, in McPherson
County, the son of John Jacob and Mary Enns Ratzlaff.
In 1916, they moved to Goessel, where
his father established an auto repair shop.
Wilbur's grade school education was
gained at Gordon School, district 31. He then attended Goessel High
School until graduating in 1934.
His occupations included employment
with the construction company building the new high school. For a
short time following this, he was manager of the Standard Oil Co.
bulk station in Hillsboro. Then he worked at Lehrman Oil Co. for 11
years.
On Dec. 28, 1937, he married Viola Anna
Glenn in Newton. She passed away on Jan. 22, 2009.
In 1953, he started his own TV and
radio service in Newton and continued with that business for 19
years.
In 1972, he and his wife purchased the
building presently owned by the Crossroads Federal Credit Union. They
did business there for five years as a TV and radio service,
appliance store and some crafts business. After closing this business
downtown, he continued service at home until retirement.
He was a member of the Goessel
Mennonite Church.
Survivors include two sons, Robert and
wife Betty of Wichita, and Donald and wife Linda of Rogers, Ark.;
grandchildren, Keith and Nicole Ratzlaff, Brian Ratzlaff, Shelli and
Tim Collins and Tammy and Jacob Gunden; 10 great-grandchildren,
Davis, Carson, Harper, Nathan, Ryan, Olivia, Logan, Haedyn, Addilyn
and Braylen; and one brother, Lee of Goessel.
He was preceded in death by three
brothers, Robert, John and Orick.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m.
Friday, with the family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m., at
Miller-Ott Funeral Home in Goessel.
Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m.
Saturday at Goessel Mennonite Church in Goessel with Pastor Mike
Hiebert officiating. Burial will be in the Goessel Mennonite Church
Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Bethesda Home
or Goessel Mennonite Church in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, P.O.
Box 96, 303 E. Main St., Goessel, KS 67053.
1912 - 2010 (98 years)