Kenny Ray Ratzlaff

September 3rd, 1947 - July 11th, 2021

Kenny's Memory Wall

We encourage you to share your most beloved memories of Kenny here, so that the family and other loved ones can always see it. Share your favorite stories or comment on those shared by others.

There aren’t enough words to describe Ken. He was my friend, mentor, father figure, but mostly the man that kept me going in the right direction. He held me accountable and because of that made me the person I am today! I will miss his jokes, his kind words, and his awesome Leadership. He accepted people for who they were and didn’t care about anything other than making them feel loved! I had the privilege of knowing him for 22 years and wouldn’t change one thing; even those times that he blared me out. I know one thing for sure, the times he did, I learned from it and never repeated it again. One of those teaching moments was forgetting to do a fire drill, and it was found during one of the many inspections by our regulators. Needless to say, I never forgot another one! I will forever hold him in my heart! Prayers to the family, who was as kind and loving as he was. God bless each of you and know that you are all loved by many!

Melissa Williams

My condolences Pat an boys.
I remember the first day we meet Ken an Pat they walked into the home in Gladstone Marci an I were working on the place tryna to open it up. Ken walks in an say hello my name is Ken do you want to sell this place. Lol um I don't know ???? Well I want to buy it. By the time he left we had a new friend an boss. We knew all about Ken an Pat they seemed to be great people an time proved that over an over. To me Ken had a passion for people. He treated people as he wanted to be treated Ken you will be greatly misses.

Joel Villeneuve

Knowing Ken is a privilege. His principled approach to life includes many lessons. Be as smart as you can be, yet be humbled by what you don’t know. Be interested in every encounter you experience by asking questions and listening to the answers. See the value and goodness in everyone you meet even when some people don’t reciprocate kindness. Understand that mistakes are chances for learning. Express compassion and love for the families of your friends and colleagues.

There are so many other life lessons Ken has left among us. He has and will continue to bless my life like he did these past decades. I’ll be doing “Kenny’s” in the honor and spirit of a great man!

My deepest condolences to you Pat and your family!

Gregory Bator

I had the honor and privilege of knowing Ken for more than twenty years. I will forever miss his humor, his strength and most of all his unwavering passion for helping others. Ken had the uncanny ability to know when someone needed words of encouragement, words of guidance or if he could simply provide a passionate, nonjudgmental ear. Ken was a man of honor and dignity who walked through this physical life on a mission from which he never deviated from. A mission of being a man who always loved, cared for and placed others far ahead of himself. Ken proudly lived his life serving his Lord and loving his family in such a way it should be inspirational to all. Ken you will be terribly missed, but you will never be forgotten.
Jimi

Jimi

In the 15+ years I had the privilege and honor of knowing Ken as a colleague and a friend, he consistently showed himself to naturally have some of the very best principles and character I have ever known in a person. Ken was exceptional in so many ways. Just by being himself and being around Ken, he inspired others to not just want to be and do better, but to know they could take the steps to do so. Ken not only helped change the lives of others; he saved lives. Many lives, through his work and influence onto others and the world around him. While we will all miss seeing Ken, his presence and influence will always continue to be seen in our lives and the lives of so many others. Thank you for everything, Ken!

Matthew Owens

I first met Ken 17 years ago when I started working at Beacon. From day 1 he made you feel like you were family and treated you like it as well. He adored his own family and loved to talk about them. He was extremely proud of all of them. His eyes would always shine when talking about things he was excited about. I remember him listening to his favorite music as loud as he wanted at the Depot and he was always singing along. Some days you could see him running to catch the train just to say hi to the conductor! Ken and Pat decorated the Cafe every year at Christmas and the Christmas Train Village was ALWAYS done by him. ( I think he looked forward to doing that part. ) He will be greatly missed and always remembered by everyone who loved him ! Much Love to Miss Pat and the whole family !