George William Ratcliff
  • Born on: February 7, 1939
  • Departed on: October 16, 2021
  • Resided in: Cresco, IA

George William Ratcliff

George William Ratcliff, age 82 of Cresco, IA passed away at the Gundersen Harmony Care
Center on Saturday, October 16, 2021 after valiantly fighting Parkinson’s disease. George was
born on February 7, 1939 in Cresco, IA, 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 January 24, 1964.
He was married to Shirley Hosek (later divorced) and they had three beloved children: Sherri,
Richard (“Ty”), & Michael.

After moving to Rochester, MN he graduated from Rochester Junior College and Winona State
College. He moved to Brookings, SD and worked for the Chrysler Corporation, then moving to
Vista, CA where he was self-employed with a business partner at T&R Auto Repair in
Oceanside, CA. 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+ 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 Hawkeye sports, classic cars, multiple friendships, his yorkies, 2-stepping to ZZ Top,
country music, & 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, and his son Michael. He is also survived by his sisters Janet (Charlie)
Speelman, Rita Bourhenne, 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
Ratcliff.

“Clear Prop & Fly High”, George. You have earned your heavenly wings.

A Celebration of Life for George W. Ratcliff (with military honors) will be held on Saturday,
October 30, 2021 at noon at McAllister Heritage Event Center, 229 3rd Ave W, Cresco, IA
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