A life celebration is planned for Friday for a longtime Annandale – South Haven area resident who was a noted civic leader in the community.
William “Bill” Rataczak passed away October 22nd at the age of 86.
Bill grew up in Minneapolis and was a U-S Air Force veteran. Family members say aviation was Bill’s passion and after his service, he became an airline pilot with Northwest Airlines. Over 34 years, Bill logged some 35 thousand hours of flying time.
He and his wife, Judy, began their family in Burnsville before moving to the shores of Lake Sylvia in the early ’70s.
Bill’s community volunteering included work with the Annandale Hockey Association, the Annandale 10K Road Race, and the Heart of the Lakes Triathlon.
A visitation for Bill Rataczak will be held Thursday evening from 4 to 7 PM at the Dingmann Funeral Chapel in Annandale, followed by a Celebration of Life on Friday at 12 noon at the Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel in St. Paul. Burial will be held in June of next year at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
