Phyllis Ratzlaff

Phyllis M. Ratzlaff, 69, of St. Paul, died on Saturday, December 31, 2022, at CHI Health—St. Francis in Grand Island, surrounded by her family.

A celebration of life was held on January 6, 2023 at Grace Baptist Church in St. Paul. Words of comfort were provided by Pastor Daniel Bear. Rachel Bear and Kaleena Smith were the vocalists. Congregational hymns included “Amazing Grace My Chains Are Gone,” and “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder”. The chosen special music was “Through It All”.

Phyllis Mae Ratzlaff was born in Pontiac, Michigan, on September 6, 1953, to George & Addie (Tadlock) Van Horn. She received her education in Pontiac, Michigan. She married Dwayne Jesse, Sr. and to this union three children were born: Dwayne, Stephen, and Dana. The couple later divorced, and Phyllis was re-married to Jim Ratzlaff.

Phyllis had an amazing passion for music and enjoyed singing in the community and church choirs. Her hobbies included crocheting, taking care of her plants and flowers, and traveling. One of her most memorable trips was to Jerusalem.

Phyllis had a heart filled with kindness and brightened any room she entered. She liked to visit her cousins and spent an incredible amount of time with Beverly and Barbara. She was anticipating being the first one to get to see Beverly, when she got to heaven.

Those left to cherish her memory include her sons and daughter-in-law, Dwayne and Niki Jesse of Fremont, and Stephen Jesse of Omaha; daughter and son-in-law, Dana and Jeremy Ackles of Farwell; brothers and sisterin- law, David Van Horn and Philip and Wilma Van Horn, all of Texas; grandchildren, Karsen Jesse, Reese Jesse, Ashley Sundquist, Mercedes Meyer, Benjamin Sims, Alayna Sims, and Gracie Ackles; great-grandchild, Brinley; numerous nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews; and numerous cousins; as well as her dog, Whitey; and her grand-dogs, Jack and Daniel.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jim; and sisters, Rebecca and Linda.