| In Memory of: |
| Phillip R Ratzel |
| March 31, 1970 July 5, 2006 |
| But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 |
I'm Free
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free;
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took His hand when I heard him call;
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
to laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I found that place at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;
Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow;
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much;
good friends, good times, a loved
one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;
don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me;
God wanted me now, He set me free.
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free;
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took His hand when I heard him call;
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
to laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I found that place at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;
Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow;
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much;
good friends, good times, a loved
one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;
don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me;
God wanted me now, He set me free.
Phillip is survived by his wife Christina and their
5 children; Nathan, Cortnie, Chloe, Daniel and
Aden. He is also survived by his mother and
stepfather Nick and Ann Garner, his stepmother
Rebecca Ratzel, his brother and sister-in-law
Shawn and Yong Mi Ratzel, his sister Shannon
French as well as numerous nieces and
nephews. He is preceded in death by his father
Raymond Ratzel and infant daughter Mollie.
Phillip enjoyed hiking, camping, computers,
listening to music, dogs and spending time with
friends and family. He enjoyed serving at JOES
Christian Youth Center in Oakville Washington.
Phillip will be remembered most for his love for
the Lord and love of people. He became fast
friends with everyone he met and would talk to
anyone about anything especially his faith in
God.
5 children; Nathan, Cortnie, Chloe, Daniel and
Aden. He is also survived by his mother and
stepfather Nick and Ann Garner, his stepmother
Rebecca Ratzel, his brother and sister-in-law
Shawn and Yong Mi Ratzel, his sister Shannon
French as well as numerous nieces and
nephews. He is preceded in death by his father
Raymond Ratzel and infant daughter Mollie.
Phillip enjoyed hiking, camping, computers,
listening to music, dogs and spending time with
friends and family. He enjoyed serving at JOES
Christian Youth Center in Oakville Washington.
Phillip will be remembered most for his love for
the Lord and love of people. He became fast
friends with everyone he met and would talk to
anyone about anything especially his faith in
God.
| Phillip's Obituary Phillip Roger Ratzel passed away on July 5, 2006 in Republic, Washington while vacationing with his family. Phillip entered the military in June 1988. He had a combination of 18 years of Military service. He had five years active service in the US Marine Corps as a Ground Radio Repairmen. He participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm with 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division. He also participated in Operation Restore Hope, Somalia with 1st Electronics Maintenance Company, 1st Maintenance Battalion. He left the Marine Corps to pursue other goals. He joined the Colorado National Guard while going to Mesa State College. He served with 143rd Signal Company and 365th Maintenance Company as an Electronics Maintenance Manager until January 1997. He then enlisted in the Army as a 35Echo, Radio and Communications Security Repairer. He served in various NCO positions throughout the Army; 3-43 ADA Battalion, Fort Bliss Texas, Cryptographic Logistics Support Center Korea, 1st Signal Brigade, Yongsan, Korea, and 2nd Infantry Division Fort Lewis Washington. He later attended the Warrant Officer Candidate Course at Fort Rucker Alabama, and the 918Delta Warrant Officer Basic Course at Redstone Arsenal Alabama. His first assignment was with the 1-4 ADA Battalion, Wiesbaden, Germany. He was subsequently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. When he returned to the United States, he was part of the 304th CMMC at Fort Lewis Washington. He was Medically Retired from the United States Army on November 1, 2005. |