Dorothy Ratzlaff

Obituaries

December 7, 2010 - 12:00 AM

Dorothy Ethel Ratzlaff, 66, of Topeka died Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010, at Plaza West Health Center in Topeka where she had been a resident since July 2007.
She was born July 6, 1944, on a farm near Vernon, to Arthur and Louise (Hastedt) Ellis. She attended Claybank Elementary School and graduated from Yates Center High School in 1962. She then attended Allen County Community College and Emporia State University.
She was baptized at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt and was confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Iola.
On April 20, 1968, she and Gary W. Ratzlaff were married at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Aliceville. They became parents of three sons. They lived in Colony and Le Roy before moving to Hartford. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Emporia and then Trinity Lutheran Church in Burlington.
The couple divorced and she moved to Gridley and became a member of Lamont Wesleyan Church.
She had worked as a security guard at IBP Inc. Fresh Meats in Emporia and as a security guard at Wolf Creek Generating Station. She also worked at restaurants in Emporia and Olpe.
She read with children at Neosho Rapids and Gridley Grade Schools.
She is survived by three sons, Andrew and his wife, Tammy, Solomon, John and his wife, Brenda, Smolan, and Shawn and his wife, Jennifer, Emporia; eight grandchildren, Andrew Jr., Ashley, Jordain and Paige Ratzlaff, Courtney and Mallory Wiggins, and Colby and Caylie Ratzlaff; a sister, Arlene Weseloh, Yates Center; a niece, Nancy Taylor, Topeka; and a nephew, Jim Weseloh, Yates Center.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Burlington. Burial will be in Logue Cemetery east of Le Roy.
The family will meet with friends at the church from 9 a.m. Thursday until the service.
Memorials to Emporia Friends of the Zoo may be sent to Jones Funeral Home, P.O. Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.

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