| Name |
Donald Arthur Ratekin |
| Date Of Birth |
8/17/1922 |
| Date Of Death |
2/24/2010 |
| Funeral Home |
Other |
| Tribute File |
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Donald Arthur Ratekin, 87, of Risen Son Christian Village, Council Bluffs, Iowa, passed away quietly in his sleep with family by his side on Wednesday, February 24, 2010.
Donald was born August 17, 1922, on the family farm near Hopkins, Missouri, the son of Ralph Donald and Gladys (Peach) Ratekin. He was the oldest son of four children. Mr. Ratekin lived in and around Bedford, Iowa until joining the service in 1943 where he served with distinction alongside his comrades in the Field Artillery, Headquarters Battery, VII Corps. While in the service, Donald served five campaigns (Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe) where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in 1944.
On February 1, 1947, he married Anna Ailee Campbell, formerly of Bedford, Iowa, while a student at Iowa State University. Following their marriage, Don and Lee lived in several places, including 30 years in Allegan, Michigan, before retiring to North Carolina.
After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and Surveying (1950), he was associated for 13 years with the county highway departments in Iowa and Michigan before founding in 1963, Donald a. Ratekin &n Associates Inc., a consulting engineering firm and as the Allegan county Surveyor; both of which he retired from in 1986.
After t2 years of marriage and the passing of Ailee, Donald returned to Iowa in 2001 where he has since resided. This is where in 2002 he re-met and married his loving wife Sarah Evelyn (Tracy) of Wichita, Kansas, with whom he shared love, adventures, and many wonderful times together.
Donald was a past member of the Shriners Club, Elks Club, Rotary, Free and Accepted Masons, Michigan Society of Registered Land Surveyors, Michigan Society of Professional Engineers, Red Cross, Iowa State University Alumni Association (life member) and numerous other organizations. He was also a member of the Broadway United Methodist Church, Council Bluffs.
Left to celebrate his life and honor his memory besides his loving wife Sarah are his three children, Roger Donald, (April Frances Koss) (Berkley, Michigan) Bruce Norman, (Dublin, Ohio), and Jane Ann, (Gregory David) Stephens, (Inkster, Michigan) and stepsons Kenneth Terry (Sheri Robinson) McMillen, (Wichita, Kansas) and Roger Lloyd (Lee Ann Alva) McMillen, (Seattle, Washington). He has four grandchildren, Jonathon Micheal (Kimberly Lynn Andrews) and Jessica Ailee Stephens and Robert Donald and Amanda Ailee (fiancé Jacob William Sullivan) Ratekin, one great grandson, Jonathon James Stephens and step-grandchildren, Gabriel, Tess, Willie, and Nikki and step-great grandchildren, London, William, Caden, Benjamin and Madeline. He is also survived by his sister, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Opal Irene (Ratekin) and Joseph Daryl Cooper (Council Bluffs, Iowa); Rachel Gladys (Jefferson) Ratekin (Oldsmar, Florida); and Beverly Ann (Rasmussen) Ratekin (Council Bluffs, Iowa) as well as several nieces and nephews and his wife’s extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers, brothers-in-law John Bernard Halbert Sr., Albert Edward Campbell Jr., and sisters-in-law Joyce Lucille (Falk) Ratekin, Romona Lorraine (Campbell) Halbert, Sally Kay (Campbell) Angel.
A memorial service was held Friday, 11 a.m. at Cutler-O’Neil-Meyer-Woodring Funeral Home. Internment take place in the Graceland Cemetery, Taylor County, Iowa at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Broadway United Methodist Church (11 South First Street-Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503) or Risen Son Christian Village (3000 Risen Son Blvd. – Council Bluffs, IA 51503).
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