Ratzlaff, J. J. (1876-1951)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Dec 6 p. 3

Birth date: 1876 Sep 26

text of obituary:

Pastor, Board Member Called Away In Death

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR REV. J. J. RATZLAFF HELD AT NO. NEWTON, MONDAY

Funeral services for Rev. J. J. Ratzlaff, 75, former pastor and a member of the Herald Publishing Co. board of directors, were held in Bethel College memorial hall at 10:00 a. m., Monday, Dec. 3. Rev. Lester Hostetler, pastor of the Bethel College congregation, was in charge and Dr. J. H. Langenwalter brought the funeral message.

Following the services at North Newton, the body was taken to Meno, Okla. for another service at the New Hopedale church on Tuesday and burial in the cemetery there. Rev. Ratzlaff was an early pioneer of the Meno community and a charter member of the New Hopedale church.

Death came to Rev. Ratzlaff Friday morning, Nov. 30, as result of a stroke which he suffered earlier in the week. Although in failing health for the past several years, he was able to visit his children and friends and attend church services.

Ordained In 1911

Rev. Ratzlaff was born at Moundridge Sept. 26, 1876, the son of Rev. Johann and Katharine Ratzlaff. On Dec. 26, 1898, he was married to Mary Decker and soon thereafter they moved to Oklahoma, where they established a home at Meno on undeveloped land which until then had been part of the Oklahoma territory. Jan. 6, 1911, he was ordained as minister by his father and served as pastor of several Oklahoma churches. When the family moved to Newton after Rev. Ratzlaff’s retirement from farming some 25 years ago, he always was ready to preach when called upon and for a time accepted an interim pastorate at the Emmanuel church north of Moundridge.

For many years he was intimately connected with the work of the Herald Publishing Co. and was still a member of its board of directors at the time of his death.

Besides his wife, the following children and their families survive: Walter, Meno, Okla., Mrs. Ruie Becker, Ringwood, Okla., Mrs. Sadie Harms, Wichita, Mrs. Kathryn Blair, Lehigh, and Mrs. Esther Schrag of McPherson.