Willard Ratzlaff

Willard “Bill” Ratzlaff, age 75, of Aurora died Tuesday, April 4, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M., Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aurora. Father John Keefe will officiate. Interment will be in the Aurora Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M., Thursday at Higby Mortuary.

OBITUARY: BILL RATZLAFF

Willard “Bill” Benjamin Ratzlaff, the son of Benjamin and Marie (Kliewer) Ratzlaff, was born in Henderson, Nebraska on February 6, 1925 and died in Grand Island, Nebraska on April 4, 2000, at the age of 75 years, 1 months and 28 days.

He grew up and attended school in Henderson. He worked as a farm hand for area farmers. He moved to Omaha where he did warehousing work.

“Bill” was united in marriage to Mary Montoya on December 15, 1948 at St. Peter’s Church in Omaha. They moved to a farm near Polk for a few months, then to a farm near Stockham. They then moved to another farm near Stockham, where they have lived for 47 years. He was also known for doing carpentry work for area neighbors and he built houses with his father and brother.

During his life he attended St. Mary’s Church in Aurora and St. Mary’s Church in Sutton. Bill enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening and being a grandpa.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Mary; two sons, Bruce Ratzlaff and his wife Melinda of Kearney and Bryan Ratzlaff of Ashgrove, Missouri; daughter, Mary Ann Ruzicka of Boelus; 16 grandchildren; one brother, Elmer Ratzlaff of Montrose, Colorado; two sisters, Lenora Goertzen of Henderson and Leona Peters of Henderson.