Ratzlaff, Peter (1914-2002)

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

Birth date: 1914 Oct 20

text of obituary:

PETER RATZLAFF

Peter Ratzlaff of Coaldale, Alta. passed away Feb. 8. He was born Oct. 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 grandparents. He learned Russian, Polish and German. In his teens, he learned the carpentry trade. Later he accepted Christ, was baptized and joined Wymyschle MB Church. In 1936 he married Frieda Pauls. They lived with his parents for 2 years. In 1939 they moved to Gombin, Poland and opened a small hardware store. During World War II, he was conscripted into the army, resulting in a 7-year absence from his family except for occasional 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 Construction 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 construction 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 Coaldale Extended Care. Predeceased by Frieda, he is mourned by daughters Ella Neufeldt of Coaldale, Loretta Dyck of Surrey, B.C. and Marlene Enns of Calgary; son Harold of Cochrane, Alta.; 9 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and 3 sisters. The funeral was Feb. 14 in Coaldale MB Church, with Lorne Willms and Rudy Heidebrecht ministering.