Ratzlaff, Eric (1890-1979)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1979 Sept 14 p. 30

Birth date: 1890 May 17

text of obituary:

ERIC RATZLAFF

Erich Peter Ratzlaff of Coaldale, Alta. passed away on August 24. He was born on May 17, 1890 to Peter and Wilhelmine Ratz laff (nee Procnau' in Wymyschle, Poland. He received Christ at an early age, and was bap tized into the MB Church in Wymyschle on March 19,1904. When Rev. Wilhelm Dyck of Millerowo, Russia visited Poland, he took Erich and a brother back with him to work at the factory of agriculture machinery of Mar tens, DeFehr and Dyck. He married Aganetha Janzen of Millerowo on September 22, 1912, and then built a sunflower oil mill near the town. In 1918 they moved back to Wymyschle where he built another oil mill, a saw mill and a flour mill. He was ordained a deacon of the Wymyschle church in 1931. After World War II, they had to leave everything, and they arrived in Canada in fall 1948. He worked in Acme, Alta. and then moved to Coaldale to work in construction. His wife died October 3, 1976.

He is survived by two sons and their wives: Peter and Frieda (nee Pauls', Coaldale, Bern hard and Anna (nee Pauls" Linden, Alta.; three daughters and husbands: Wilhelmine and Leonard Schmidt, Clearbrook, B.C., Martha and David Pauls, Hilda and Henry Bergman of Coaldale; 18 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, one brother and many other relatives and friends. The funeral took place August 28 at the Coaldale MB Church, with pastor Rudy Heidebrecht and Rev. Erich L. Ratzlaff, a nephew of the deceased, in charge.