Irene E. Ratzman

Irene E. Ratzman, 89 July 9, 1916 – Dec. 22, 2005 Irene E. Ratzman passed away Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005. Services will be at 9:30 am Saturday, Dec. 24, at First Lutheran Church, 1008 Jefferson. Visitation with the family will be Friday, Dec. 23 from 5 to 7:00 pm at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey, 6101 Bosque. Mrs. Ratzman was born July 9, 1916 in Graymont, Illinois to Clarence and Tina Mossberger. She attended schools in Pontiac, Illinois graduating from Pontiac High School in 1934. After high school, she met Wally Ratzman and they were married on January 24, 1936. She was a lifelong homemaker and cherished family gatherings. They moved to Waco in late 1943 when Owens-Illinois opened the glass factory, and joined First Lutheran Church and maintained her membership there since 1943, except for the years in Atlanta. They lived in Waco until 1957 when they moved to Atlanta, Georgia when Owens-Illinois opened another glass factory. Wally and Irene returned to Waco in 1963. In her younger years, she and Wally bowled and played golf together. Irene volunteered at Providence Hospital for over 38 years. Irene and Wally placed a lot of importance on family and being together. After Wally’s death in 1979 she became a true matriarch for her family. During her lifetime she traveled to visit family, whether they were in Europe, Chicago, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Nashville and throughout Texas. On many occasions the entire family was together. She didn’t plan family reunions, they just sort of happened, such as Mother’s Day in May of this year. Waco was a natural meeting place for the other family members who live in Dallas and Austin. She was an avid Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers fan. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Wally. She is survived by her three sons, Bob Ratzman and wife, Joy, of Midlothian, Texas, Joe Ratzman and wife, Martha Jo, of McDonough, Georgia and Jim Ratzman and wife, Carole, of Austin, Texas; one daughter, Marie Ratzman of Waco; brother, John Mossberger and wife, Martha of Arlington Heights, Illinois; six grand-children, Scott Ratzman of Frisco, TX, Tammy Chapman and husband, Bryan of Bloomington, IL, Cindy Hunt, Kim Wiernicki and husband, Mike of McDonough, GA, Eric Ratzman and wife, Karen of Dallas, TX and Julie Summers of Wylie, TX; eight great grandchildren, Jordan Ratzman, Jessica Chapman, Erica Chapman, Nicolas Chapman, Mikaila Summers, Tyler Ratzman, Connor Wiernicki and Allie Wiernicki. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey