Vernon Herman Ratzlaff

Vernon Herman Ratzlaff was born to Jacob and Sara (Voth) Ratzlaff on a farm near Waldheim, Saskatchewan (SK), June 16, 1937, the “afterthought” of their 5 children. He received his grades 1-9, and his hockey education, in the Windom School (grade 9 by correspondence), just a quarter mile from the family’s home. The family attended Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church, where Vern was baptized at the age of 14 on his confession of faith by Rev. H.A. Willems. By this time, he had taken over most of the farming duties due to his father’s poor health. But he loved farming, and felt that was what he wanted to do in life.

His parents thought differently and, at age 15, Vern and his parents moved to Delta, British Columbia (BC) where most of his siblings had already moved; there he completed high school. During grade 13, his father died, and to help out his mother, he started fulltime work in weather forecasting as a Meteorological Technician with the BC Department of Transport (1956-1962). He was stationed in various hard-to-reach BC locations, but after two years was assigned to the Vancouver International Airport, which then allowed him to work the night shifts, and study at the University of BC during the day. Over the next seven years, he completed a BSc Honours degree in Physics & Math, BA in English & History, BSW (Social Work), and MA in Political Philosophy, as well as graduate theology coursework at the United Church Seminary on campus.

On June 21, 1958, he was married to Helen Koehn of Yarrow, BC. In 1962, they left Vancouver with three little ones, and moved first to Yarrow, and later (1966) to Winnipeg, Manitoba (MB), where the family grew to five children, and during which time they took care of many foster children.

Vern taught at the Sharon Mennonite Collegiate (1962-1966) in Yarrow, BC, doubling as principal for three of the four years. He became quite active on Mennonite Brethren church conference boards at the Canadian and international levels. The family then moved to Winnipeg, MB, where he taught philosophy and historical theology at the Mennonite Brethren Bible College and its affiliate, University of Winnipeg, from 1966-1976, with one academic year spent away, teaching at Tabor College (Hillsboro, Kansas; 1974-75). His best-known course was likely Atheism and Faith in God. He served as Dean of Students at MBBC for several years during his tenure, and continued to teach part-time at MBBC and U of W until 1982. Meanwhile, he had assumed duties as fulltime Executive Director of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), Manitoba (1977-1982). During his years in Winnipeg, he was also active in congregational and denominational life, engaged as guest preacher and interim pastor, worked at The Christian Press for a time, served as ancillary staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and was instrumental in forming the Canadian Food Grains Bank with a group of colleagues.

As their older children started leaving the nest, Vern and Helen moved to Cairo, Egypt, taking along their two youngest who were still in high school. Vern took on the role of country Director of MCC, Egypt (1982-1987). The interdenominational work there meant he developed close ties principally with the Coptic Orthodox church but also a variety of other local congregations and regional churches. His contributions to programs of development, healthcare, and education were both deeply and intentionally interfaith efforts, involving Muslim, Christian, urban, and rural communities.

Upon finishing the term of service with MCC, he and Helen accepted a call from Nutana Park Mennonite Church (NPMC) in Saskatoon, SK, where Vern served as pastor for the next 18 years (1987-2005). He also was a regular speaker (1988-2003) for the Abundant Life radio program, which was broadcast weekly from Winnipeg and aired from BC to Ontario. Three months after his retirement from NPMC, he and Helen accepted a call from Aberdeen Mennonite Church (Aberdeen, SK), where Vern served as part-time pastor for the next 12 years (2006-2018), remaining with them as a congregant thereafter. His other activities over the decades in Saskatoon reflect his heart for ethical living, for the formation of ecumenical and interfaith ties, and his love of teaching, learning, and interacting with people.

He was founding chair (1989) of the Spiritual Care Advisory Committee to the Saskatoon Regional Health Board, serving 10 years. He served on the Ethics Committee of the Regional Health Board dealing with some challenging ethical situations that arose in the hospitals during his tenure, and was a Bioethics instructor for some years in the College of Medicine, U of SK.

For many years, he led an ecumenical Bible study held at NPMC, was part of an ecumenical pastors’ group, and later served on the Board of the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism. He had a longtime association with Queen’s House of Retreats (program presenter, member, participant, liturgy leader), and in later years also served on their Board (2007-2018).

Starting in 2007, Vern served at the Lutheran Theological Seminary (Saskatoon) in various capacities including sessional instructor, Interim Director of Contextual Education, adjunct faculty (2012-2018), Schmeider Resident/Fellow, and affiliate faculty (2019-2021). LTS bestowed on him the degree of Honorary Doctor of Divinity in 2011.

His lifetime publications include numerous articles on philosophy, theology, and ethics, one book, and many requested book reviews. Several friends hand-published collections of his sermons for a series entitled According to VR.

Due to mobility problems and other increasing health issues, he spent the last three years of his life in Sunnyside Adventist Care Centre, a place where he had initially provided monthly worship services with members of NPMC (starting in 1999), and then had volunteered for many years providing pastoral care and Bible Studies on Thursday afternoons until the pandemic. As a resident, he tried to minister to those around him as he was able. He died there peacefully in his sleep on February 16, 2024, at age 86. The family wishes to thank Sunnyside staff for their care of Vern.

The organizations in which Vern held positions, and the activities that his life overflowed with, do not fully reflect the person behind them. Vern enjoyed singing in choirs (Saskatoon Men’s Chorus; Aberdeen Church men’s group), listening to classical music, attending and hosting garage sales, watching hockey (“Go Canadiens”), frequenting donut shops to meet others for coffee and conversation, reading the occasional mystery book, savouring food at an annual borscht and pie supper, having conversations with children, photographing nature, being recognized as Santa Claus in December, and jokes. Always jokes.

To some, Vern was a mentor, advisor, and teacher. To others, a beloved pastor who challenged them to think about what the Word of G-d was really saying. To others, a valued peer with whom to discuss and address issues relevant to clergy. To some, he was a long-time friend with whom to talk theology, philosophy, and wrestle with ideas and events of the day. To everyone he was a masterful collector and teller of jokes. He was a living resource with prodigious memory for details and their corresponding page numbers in any one of the thousands of books he had read. He was “that person who walked alongside me when I was alone”. He was a father and grandfather who knew how to pull off a mean wiener roast (even in the depths of a Canadian prairie winter), how to construct custom bookshelves, how to build models and tinker with Mechano sets, how to carefully listen when needed, how to make enormous family breakfasts, how to cultivate an incredible garden, and share awe and joy in the natural world. And for 56 years, he was the husband of Helen, demonstrating his devotion and love to her by caring for her in their home during her final years. He profoundly missed her throughout the years following her death in 2014.

Vern committed himself to the work of the church through teaching, pastoring and encouragement of mission. The second chapter of Philippians was foundational for Vern’s life and ministry. He remarked, “Academically this is the essence of Christology, theologically the nature of the atonement, and ethically our model for the Christian life. This is the model that I have tried to live by.”

Vern was predeceased by his wife, Helen (Koehn), his parents, Jacob and Sara (Voth), and all his siblings and their spouses: Matilda (Art) Unruh; Frieda (Nick) Unruh; Jack (Agnes) Ratzlaff; and Sadie (Herman) Schuetze. He leaves to mourn his and Helen’s five children: Shirley Ratzlaff; Patricia (Perry) Ng; Norman Ratzlaff; Diane (Kevin) Friesen; Bruce (Darlene) Ratzlaff; and grandsons: Reuben, Micah (Amber), and Stephen (Molly) Ng; Samuel and Louie Friesen.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., at Nutana Park Mennonite Church with Curtis Wiens of Aberdeen Mennonite Church officiating. For those unable to attend please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p7HScvhJHs to view the service.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to https://mcc.org/donate or an organization of your choice.