Ratzlaff, Jacob C. (1879-1952)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1952 Dec 25 p. 9

Birth date: 1879 Feb 11

text of obituary:

JACOB C. RATZLAFF

Jacob C. Ratzlaff, son of Johann and Katharina (Unruh) Ratzlaff was born at Moundridge, Kansas, on Feb. 11, 1879. He departed this life peacefully as the result of a heart attack early Friday morning, Nov. 14, 1952, at the age of 73 years, nine months, and three days.

His early childhood years was spent in Kansas. He came to Oklahoma as a teenage lad with his parents in 1894, settling in a sod house east of Meno.

His education consisted of rural school attendance, most of which was in the German language. Later in life as a young married man he took some work at the Oklahoma Bible Academy.

Having been reared in a Christian home, he united with the church at an early age. On August 8, 1897, he was baptized upon the confession of his faith by his father and received into the New Hopedale Mennonite church at Meno, of which his father was then pastor. He remained faithful and loyal to God and the church till the end.

On Feb. 24, 1901, he was united in marriage with Mary Becker in the Canton Mennonite church of Canton, Kansas. To this union three daughters and four sons were born. Two children, Alvin and Victor, and one grandchild, Harold Gene Ratzlaff, preceded him in death in infancy. In 1951, Bro. and Sister Ratzlaff were privileged to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

Those early days in Oklahoma were days of true pioneering. The first years of their married life were spent on the farm where he settled with his parents. About 38 years ago they moved to the location from which the Lord called him to his heavenly Home.

He has always been an active leader in the church and community. For many years he served on the board of trustees in the church; had he lived, his membership on this board would not have expired until 1958. He also showed great interest in the Oklahoma Bible Academy. He served on the board of directors for a number of years. For two years they served as house-parents at the dormitory and later they boarded students for many years. Bro. Ratzlaff used to say that the OBA was his mission field. He frequently stated that he had no education but he could serve by farming and giving. He denied himself many things so that he could give to the work of the Lord.

Bro. Ratzlaff always took great delight in his family. He found great joy in the fact that one of his sons, Harold, answered the call of God to become a Missionary to India. Those who will miss him most are his wife, Mary; Raymond and wife, Margaret (Reimer) Ratzlaff of Covington, Okla., and their three children; Evelyn and husband, Harold Wiens of Pond Creek, Okla., and their two children; Harold and wife, Ruth (Regier) Ratzlaff of Champa, M. P. India, and their daughter; Norman and wife, Helen (Janzen) Ratzlaff of Meno, Okla., and their two children; and Lillian and husband, Rev. Levi Koehn of Turpin, Okla., and their daughter. Besides these he leaves two sisters, Mrs. J. J. Johnson and Mrs. D. B. Unruh, both of Meno, also one great-grandchild.

The life of Bro. Ratzlaff is characterized by the words of the Apostle Paul which he gave to us at the end of his life, 2 Tim. 4:7, 8, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course. I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge, shall give me at that day. . . .”

Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 17, 1952, at the New Hopedale Mennonite church, Meno, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Arnold Epp, assisted by Rev. H. U. Schmidt. Rev. Albert Unruh of Enid led in a brief service in the home. Honorary pallbearers were co-members of the board of trustees of the church, and active pallbearers were his nephews.

The Mennonite obituary: 1953 Jan 27 p. 61