Ratzlaff, Jake J. (1880-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Aug 10 p. 4

Birth date: 1880 Nov 14

text of obituary:

. . .

— Relatives here received word of the passing of Jake J. Ratzlaff of Corn, Okla., who died suddenly while visiting a daughter at El Paso, Texas. He was a cousin of H. A. Ratzlaff, Newton, and an uncle of Mrs. D. J. Unruh, formerly of Newton and now of Harper. Funeral services were to be held at Corn last Sunday.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Aug 30 p. 6

text of obituary:

J. J. RATZLAFF

J. J. Ratzlaff was born Nov. 14, 1880, the son of Ben Ratzlaff and Lena Janzen, in Harvey county, Kans. There he spent his youth attending the county school. In 1898 he came with his parents to Oklahoma and they settled north of the Bergthal church.

On March 19, 1899, he was baptized upon his confession of faith in his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Rev. Flickinger and was accepted as a member in the Bergthal church. He remained a true and faithful member of the church to his death.

On Dec. 30, 1908, he entered the holy estate of matrimony with Anna Heidebrecht. For over 41 years they shared the joys and sorrows of wedded life. Five children were born to this union, all of whom were present to mourn the passing of their father. His parents as well as two brothers and four sisters preceded him into eternity.

Jake, as he was fondly called by his many friends, loved the church and his Lord and Saviour. His place in the assembly was seldom vacant. He was an attentive listener and took an active part in the work of the church whenever possible. His kindly smile, his affectionate pat on the back, and the encouraging words he always had will be missed by many. “Loved by all” could well be said of Bro. Ratzlaff.

He had a strong and robust body and the family seldom entertained the thought of his passing away. While visiting his children in El Paso, Tex. he was stricken with a heart attack. He passed away Aug. 3 at 12:30 a.m. in the home of his daughter in El Paso. He reached the age of 69 years, 10 months and 12 days.

He leaves to mourn his sudden departure his wife; five children, Selma Ratzlaff and Evelyn, Mrs. R. M. McNamee, both of El Paso, John Ratzlaff of Corn, Minnie, Mrs. H. O. Nelson of Cordell, and Raymond Eugene of Tucson, Ariz.; eight grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Henry Unruh of Reamstown, Pa. beside a host of relatives and friends.

Though we mourn and our tears fall, we are confident that our father is with his Lord whom he loved and in his own humble way tried to serve. There we shall meet when he will come with the Lord and His holy angels and what a joyful meeting that will be. — The Family.