Kermit O. Ratzlaff
Kermit was born December 26, 1921, in the Hillsboro Hospital to Jonathan J and Marie Plenert Ratzlaff. In 1928, they moved to the Balko area in the panhandle of Oklahoma, in time for the hardships of the dust bowl. The family was part of the Balko Mennonite Brethren Church, and he was baptized at the age of 12. Kermit was valedictorian at Corn Bible Academy and at Bethany School in Balko. He enrolled in Tabor College, and here he met Ruth Warkentin. In the fall of 1942, they were engaged just days before he was inducted into Civilian Public Service as a Conscientious Objector. He served in Oregon, Wisconsin, and California. Kermit and Ruth were married in Los Angeles on August 11, 1944. They lived in Pasadena, California, for 14 years where their five children were born, and four years in west Los Angeles. During this period, City Terrace Mennonite Brethren Church in east Los Angeles was central to their lives. Kermit received his Ph.D. in Biology from UCLA in 1962. In 1962, the family moved to Edwardsville, Illinois, where Kermit joined the Physiology faculty of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He remained at SIUE until retirement in 1992. Kermit was a member of the American Scientific Affiliation for over 70 years. After retiring, Kermit and Ruth moved to Hillsboro, Kansas. There he kept busy with gardening and volunteering. He immediately joined the Lions’ Club, helped at the Adobe House Museum, and was an active proponent of recycling in Hillsboro. Kermit led the Senior Center board and was involved in multiple capacities with Grand Oaks low-income housing. He was long-time sexton of the Hillsboro MB Cemetery. Still needing to be busy, he was a paperboy for the Hillsboro Free Press until age 97, possibly the world’s oldest. His hundredth birthday slideshow may be viewed at https://theRatzlaffs.net/kermit.asp. Kermit was predeceased by his wife of nearly 72 years, Ruth, by his brother, Harvey, and by his sister, Merlie Friesen. He is survived by his sister Irma Koop, five children: Kenneth (Virginia) of Lawrence, KS, Ronald (Nancy) of St. Charles, MO, David (Elizabeth) of Batavia, IL, Marilyn Lovinger (Warren) of Nevada, MO, and Eugene (Jewel) of Hopewell Junction, NY, 14 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson. Viewing will be at Parkview MB Church, on October 7, 5-7 pm. Burial will be in the Hillsboro MB Cemetery at 10 am on October 8 followed by the funeral service at 11 am at Parkview MB Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made supporting two of Kermit’s passions: the Hillsboro Senior Center and the Mennonite Central Committee in care of Jost Funeral Home, 401 S. Washington, Hillsboro, KS 67063.
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