George William Ratcliff, 82

Feb. 7, 1939 —
Oct. 16, 2021
 
CRESCO - George William Ratcliff, age 82, of Cresco, Iowa, passed away at the Gundersen Harmony Care Center on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 after valiantly fighting Parkinson’s disease. 
A visitation will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021 at McAllister Heritage Event Center, 229 3rd Ave. W., Cresco, with a Celebration of Life (with military honors) following. 
George was born on Feb. 7, 1939 in Cresco, the son of Richard (Vic) and Elsie (Goldsworthy) Ratcliff. He spent the earlier years of his life in California, and in 1952 the family moved back to Cresco, where he graduated from Cresco High School in 1957. 
George was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving from April 23, 1962 until being honorably discharged on Jan. 24, 1964. 
He was married to Shirley Hosek (later divorced) and they had three beloved children, Sherri, Richard “Ty” and Michael.
After moving to Rochester, Minn., he graduated from Rochester Junior College and Winona State College. He moved to Brookings, S.D. and worked for the Chrysler Corporation, then moved to Vista, Calif., where he was self-employed with a business partner at T&R Auto Repair in Oceanside, Calif. George fulfilled his dream of becoming an airplane pilot during his years in California and hangared his Cessna at the Oceanside airport. 
In 1985 he sold his part of the business and moved to Cresco, where he was self-employed at Ratcliff Oil Company, Ratcliff Conoco and Town & Country Auto Sales. He eventually hung up his wrenches from his petroleum/auto mechanic businesses and became a Public Transit Driver for Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation until retiring in 2013 due to progressing Parkinson’s.
He met Deb Hovey while in Cresco and became a ‘bonus dad’ for Kelsey. They enjoyed many trips and car cruises together and developed multiple lifetime friendships and precious memories along their 30-plus year journey. 
While George lost the physical ability to do much of what he enjoyed in his later years, he maintained his positive outlook and shared his smile with everyone. When it seemed as if everything was going against him, he would say “Remember, an airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” 
George will be remembered for his pranks, his love of flying, NASCAR racing, Iowa Hawkeyes sports, classic cars, multiple friendships, his yorkies, two-stepping to ZZ Top, country music, and an occasional Beefeater gin on the rocks with two olives. 
George is survived by his significant other Deb; his bonus daughter, Kelsey (Matty Schumacher); his daughter, Sherri; son, Michael; sisters, Janet (Charlie) Speelman, Rita Bourhenne and Diane (Dan) Karella; and his brother, Darryl (Michele) Ratcliff. 
He was preceded in death by his son, Richard Tyler “Ty”; his parents; and a brother, Richard Ratcliffand
“Clear Prop & Fly High”, George. You have earned your heavenly wings.
 

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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