Ratzlaff, Peter (1914-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Mar 22 p. 24

Birth date: 1914 Oct 20

text of obituary:

PETER RATZLAFF

eter Ratzlaff of Coal- dale, Alta. pas sed away Feb. 8. He was born Oc t. 20, 1914 to Eric and Agnetha Ratzlaff in Millerovo, Russia, the 2nd of 9 children . When he was 4, the family moved to Wymyschle, Poland to be near his grandpar- ents. He learned Russ- ian, Polish and German. In his teens, he learned the carpentry trade. Lat- er he accepted Christ, was baptized and joined Wymy schle MB Church. In 1936 he married Frieda Pauls . They lived with his par- ents for 2 years. In 1939 they moved to Gom- bin, Poland and opened a small ha rdware store. During World War II, he was conscripted into the army, resulting in a 7-year ab sence from his family except for occa- sional furloughs. In 1947, after a long search by his family, they were reunited. In 1948 they immigrated to Gem, Alta., where he helped with the harvest for half a year. He found work with Oland Con- struction of Lethbridge, Alta., building many landmark building in southern Alberta. He moved his family to Coaldale and joined Coaldale MB Church . He started his own con- struction company with his brother-in-law Dave Pauls. For 18 years, they built many homes and some public buildings in Coaldale . In 1997 he and Frieda moved to Sunny South Lodge. Frieda died a year later. His health began to fail, and he moved to Coal- dale Extended Care. Predeceased by Frieda, he is mourned by daughters Ella Neufeldt of Coaldale, Loretta Dyck of Surrey, B.C. and Marlene Enns of Cal- gary; son Harold of Cochrane, Alta.; 9 grandchildren; 10 great- grandchildren; and 3 sisters . The funeral was Feb. 14 in Coaldale MB Church, with Lome Willms and Rudy Heide- brecht ministering.