Obit: Ratsch, Irene M. #2 (1919 - 2016)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Ratsch, Prust, Sternitzky, Coel, Lau, Riedel, Bieneck, Arndt, Lulloff, Krause, Noll, Wacker, Revling, Brandt, Steffan, Smith, Bragg, DePaoli

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/03/2016

Ratsch, Irene M. (17 January 1919 - 23 July 2016)

Irene M. Ratsch, 97, of Greenwood passed away Saturday, July 23, 2016, at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.

Irene was born Jan. 17, 1919, in the Town of Lynn, Clark County, to Joseph and Elsie (Prust) Sternitzky. She was educated at Poplar Grove country school.

Irene (nee Sternitzky) was united in marriage to Harold Ratsch Aug. 27, 1943, at the Clark County Courthouse in Neillsville. Irene and Harold celebrated 64 years of marriage before his passing March 28, 2008. They farmed near Lindsey in Wood County and later in the Town of York, Clark County.

Irene held various positions besides being a homemaker. She worked at Stewards Dairy in Greenwood for 10 years, Figi’s, Crothers Greenhouse in Granton and also ran her own greenhouse.

Irene valued hard work and was always busy keeping up with her family and their farm. She loved to cook large meals for her family and anyone else who showed up for holiday gatherings. Everyone always left such meals with a full belly and laugher in their heart.

Irene was a great gardener; you could always find her out weeding. Many days and hours were spent canning the wonderful vegetables produced from her hard work. On at least two occasions, she canned over 1,000 quarts. Planting, gardening and weeding were always foremost on her mind. In later years, when she was unable to plant her own garden, she loved to visit all of the local farmers markets.

Above all else, Irene was a wonderful mother and homemaker. She loved to spend time with her family and her many grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.

Irene is survived by her two sons: Gerald “Gary” (Adeline) Ratsch of Granton and Ronald (Sharon) Ratsch of Marshfield; her three daughters, Betty (Al) Coel of Oconto, Beverly (Roger) Lau of Mosinee and Gloria (Dale) Riedel of Chili; 16 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and 21 great-great-grandchildren. She is further survived by her sister, Adeline Bieneck-Arndt of Neillsville; one sister-in-law, Anita Lulloff of Neillsville; daughter-in-law, Alvina Krause; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; her parents, Joseph and Elsie; two sons: Emroy Krause and Marlon Ratsch; a daugher, Evelyn in infancy; grandson, Michael Krause; four sisters: Ermine Noll, Vivian Wacker, Emoline Revling and Ione Brandt; five sisters-in-law: Edna Steffan, Iris Smith, Marie Ratsch,, Luella Bragg and Dorothy Ratsch; and 11 brothers-in-law: Arnold Noll, Frank Wacker, Gordon Revling, Ervin Brandt, Clarence “Jack” Ratsch, Robert Ratsch, Carl Steffan, David Bragg, Robert Lulloff, Paul Bieneck and Herb Arndt.

The family would like to thank the staff at Golden Living Center in Abbotsford for their kind and loving care of their mom.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be designated at a later date.

Visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com  to share thoughts and condolences. Life Tributes Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Spencer, assisted the family.