Obituaries

Jerry Ratzlaff

Photo of Jerry Ratzlaff
Jerry Ratzlaff, age 76, of Fayetteville passed away Friday Oct. 5, 2018. He was born Feb. 17, 1942 in Buhler, Kan., to Eldo and Anna Marie Siemens Ratzlaff. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Bill Ratzlaff; sister-in-law, Sharon; brother-in-law, Johnny Nantz; and his niece, Mendy Nantz Sedlmeier and her family. Jerry Ratzlaff was renowned for his upbeat, easy-going attitude, big smile, and eternal optimism. If you asked him his secret, he would say, having a strong faith and being relentlessly thankful for God's blessings. Jerry's greatest passion was the Lord. He was the choir director and member of Central Presbyterian Church in Russellville, Ark., and relished in telling the story of Jesus and singing His praises. Jerry started his career as a choir then band director in Gravette, Ark., spent a year at Siloam Springs, and enjoyed 28 years as a band director in the Russellville School District. Under his baton, Ratzlaff defined his success by making a difference in students' lives and the professional music community, "You never knock down a kid without picking them back up, and letting them know you care." Jerry is survived by two daughters, Leslie Lyons, and her husband Nick, of Bentonville; Lynsey Reynolds of Rogers, Ark.; one sister, Marjorie Nantz of Dallas, Texas; one brother, Kenny Ratzlaff and his wife Kay, of Tampa, Fla., and his four "awesome" grandchildren: Jackson and Grace Lyons and Grayson and Griffyn Reynolds. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Monday Oct. 8, 2018 at Moore's Chapel in Fayetteville. Memorial service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Butterfield Trail Village Performance Hall in Fayetteville with fellowship following at the Butterfield Lodge. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund will be set up in his memory. To place an online tribute visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.

Published October 7, 2018

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