Obituary of Irene M. Ratsch

Irene M. Ratsch, Age 97, of Greenwood, passed away on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, August 1, 2016 at Life Tributes Funeral Home in Spencer with Rev. David M. DePaoli officiating. Interment will be in Windfall Cemetery in Granton. The family will greet friends and relatives from 9:00 AM until the time of service at the funeral home. Irene was born January 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 on August 27, 1943 at the Clark County Courthouse in Neillsville. Irene and Harold celebrated 64 years of marriage before his passing on 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, working at Stewards Dairy in Greenwood for 10 years, Figi’s, Crothers Greenhouse in Granton and also running 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 laughter 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 was 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 farmer’s 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 daughter 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 eleven 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. Life Tributes Funeral Home and Cremation Service – Spencer is assisting the family. Please visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com to share thoughts and condolences.