Cletus M. Rataichek Sr.

Cletus M. Rataichek Sr., age 82, a Brillion resident, passed away Friday morning, August 20, 2021 at the Bay at Northridge Health & Rehabilitation, Manitowoc.

Cletus was born on October 11, 1938 in Green Bay, son of the late Theodore and Margaret (Leick) Rataichek. He grew up in Reedsville and was a 1957 graduate of St. Norbert Abbot Pennings High School. Following high school, he attended St. Norbert College in De Pere and graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee in 1961 with a degree in Business Administration. Following his graduation from Marquette University he enlisted in the United States Army serving from 1961 until 1964. On September 15, 1973 Cletus married Emily M. Freidenberger at St. Anne Catholic Church in Francis Creek. Cletus owned and operated Rataichek Hardware in Reedsville for ten years, but for most of his working career, he was a rural route mail carrier in Reedsville and Green Bay.

Cletus was a member of Holy Family Parish in Reedsville, the Reedsville Knights of Columbus Council #5798, Reedsville AmVets #1032, the American Legion Post #199 of Reedsville and was a 25-year member of the Reedsville Volunteer Fire Department. He enjoyed bowling and loved the Green Bay Packers.

Survivors include his wife: Emily Rataichek, Brillion; his four children: Cletus (Jennifer) Rataichek Jr., Glen Burnie, MD, Chad (Cami) Rataichek, Reedsville, Cheryl Rataichek, Brillion, Cynthia (David) Hardy, Brillion; nine grandchildren: Hanna, Marcus and Ian Rataichek, Logan and Lily Rataichek, Noel Rataichek, Michael, Lauren and Evan Hardy; one brother: Michael Rataichek and his fiancée Mary Lou Krepline, Reedsville; one sister and brother-in-law: Mary Margaret (Ron) Wondrash, Mesa, AZ; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law include: Carol Mott, Manitowoc, Harlan Freidenberger, Green Bay, Frank Freidenberger, Manitowoc, James (Shirley) Freidenberger, Reedsville, Mary Jo Sturm, Manitowoc, Elaine Riederer, Clarks Mills, Jeanette Junk, Cleveland, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents: Theodore and Margaret Rataichek; one brother: Jerome Rataichek; one sister and brother-in-law: Jeanette (Robert) Brochtrup; two sisters-in-law: Sharon Rataichek, Diane Freidenberger; three brothers-in-law: Allan Junk, Arnold Mott, Charles Riederer; two nephews: Jeff Rataichek, Eric Freidenberger; one niece: Judy Brochtrup.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at Holy Family Parish, 1100 W. Ryan Street, Brillion. The Rev. Tom Pomeroy will Celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial with burial including full Military Honors at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Reedville. Relatives and friends may call at the church on Monday from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM and again on Tuesday from 9:30 AM until the time of Mass at 11:00 AM. The Reinbold & Pfeffer Family Funeral Home of Kellnersville is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lakeshorefamilyfuneralhomes.com

Special thanks to Shelly Bruette, Cletus’s long-time caregiver that became family.  Next, we would like to thank the staff at the VA Spinal Cord Unit in Milwaukee. Lastly thank you to the Brillion Police Department and Brillion First Responders for all the years of taking good care of Cletus and the empathy shown towards our family.

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