Ratzlaff, Herman H. (1866-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Aug 17 p. 6

Birth date: 1866 Oct 1

text of obituary:

HERMAN H. RATZLAFF

Herman H. Ratzlaff, son of Henry and Anna Willems Ratzlaff, was born October 1, 1866 at Yankton, South Dakota. Early in his life the family moved from Yankton to Lansing, Michigan. From there, at about the age of 16 years, he came with his parents to Hillsboro, Kansas. Here he stayed till he left his parental home to reside near Fairview, Oklahoma.

In 1902 Bro. Ratzlaff staked a claim near Boyd, Oklahoma, to which he moved a year later to make his home until the time of retirement in 1938.

On October 1, 1892, he was baptized upon the confession of his faith and received into the Johannestal Mennonite church near Hillsboro, Kansas. Later when he moved to Fairview, Oklahoma he became a member of the Saron Mennonite church near Orienta, and when he moved to Boyd, he became a member of the Friedensfeld Mennonite church near Turpin, Oklahoma.

On May 23, 1903, he was united in marriage to Agnes Buller. To Bro. and Sis. Ratzlaff were born three children — one daughter, Laurena, who preceded him in death in infancy; two sons, Alvin of Meno, and Vernon of Boyd, Oklahoma.

Today those who remain to share in the sorrow of the passing of Bro. Ratzlaff are his bereaved widow, his two sons and their wives, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Ratzlaff and Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Ratzlaff; four grandchildren, one brother David of Reedley, Calif., two sisters, Mrs. Mary Janzen of Annaheim [sic Anaheim], Calif., and Mrs. Bena Plenert of Hillsboro, Kansas, and many other relatives and friends.

In 1938, alter spending many years of hard work on their western Oklahoma farm, Bro. and Sis. Ratzlaff bought a home in Meno, where they lived happily together in retirement. However, in recent years his health was failing considerably which caused him to long for his home-going, for which he was fully prepared.

Bro. Ratzlaff became a member of the New Hopedale Mennonite church of Meno, when he moved here and remained a faithful member till the end. In spite of declining health, he was faithfully in his place at the services in church, where his face too will be greatly missed.

In the early morning hours of July 27, 1950, at the age of 73 years, 9 months, and 27 days he was quietly called to his heavenly home.