David D. Ratz^[1]

1875 - 1917  (41 years)

• Name	David D. Ratz
  Born	20 Aug 1875	Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
  Gender	Male
  Name	D. D. Ratz
  Occupation	Perine & Co., Doon (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	clerk
  Residence	1891	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Methodist
  Occupation	1901	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Bank Clerk
  Occupation	1910	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Banker
  Occupation	1911	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Bank Manager, Bank
  Residence	1911	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Evangelical
  Occupation	1917	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Royal Bank manager
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-25877
  Died	13 Jan 1917	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3, 7]
  Buried	Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Person ID	I25877	Generations
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2025

  
  

  Father	Reeve John Ratz,   b. 7 Dec 1833, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 14 Oct 1889, Elmira Mennonite Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 55 years)
  Mother	Saloma Haist,   b. 29 Dec 1835, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 2 Mar 1917, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 81 years)
  Family ID	F6743	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Anna Myrtle Otto,   b. 27 Aug 1883, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	12 Oct 1910	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Last Modified	4 Mar 2025
  Family ID	F41248	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  David D. Ratz 1903

  
  

• Notes

  Mr. D. D. Ratz, is the youngest son of the late John Ratz, and is a native of Elmira. He received his education in the Elmira Public Schools and the Galt Collegiate Institute. He was several years engaged in the office of Messrs Perine & Co., at Doon, Ont. In the year 1899, he returned to Elmira to take a position at the Traders Bank, where recently he has been advanced to the office of teller and accountant. Mr. Ratz is also treasurer of the Elmira Public Library. Enterprising Elmira Souvenir, An historical, descriptive, and illustrated Book of the Village of Elmira, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada, published by George Klinck, 1903. ______________________________________ Mr. D. D. Ratz, Manager of Royal Bank, Drops Dead Like a lightning stroke from a clear sky, came the report that Friday morning that Mr. D. D. Ratz, manager of the local branch of the Royal Bank had died suddenly. As Mr. Ratz had attended his duties as usual and had shown no symptoms of illness, the report of his sudden demise seemed almost incredible, but it proved to be only too true. His death occurred shortly before nine o'clock. Consider snow had fallen during the previous night, and before going to his work, deceased shoveled the snow from the walks along his property. He went to the bath room to prepare for his office when he was seized with heart failure. His wife heard him fall and when she arrived to the scene, his spark of life had fled. Medical aid could do nothing to bring it back. The news of the sudden demise was received with consternation, as the departed was a popular official and a highly respected citizen. He was the youngest son of the late John Ratz, the first Reeve of Elmira. He was born in the Township of Woolwich on August 19th, 1875. The greater part of his childhood was spent in Elmira when he moved with his parents as an infant. He was educated in the Elmira Public School and Galt Collegiate Institute. He was engaged for several years in the office at Perine & Co. at Doon, Ontario. In 1899, he accepted a situation in the Traders Bank, where he gradually rose from the position of junior to the office of manager to which then he was promoted on the departure of Mr. R. H. MacMicking? and which he held until his death. He was a valued employee of a great commercial institution and his place will be hard to fill. Deceased was married to Miss Myrtle Otto, whom he leaves with her two- year- old son, to mourn the loss of a kind and indulgent husband and father. Besides the aged mother of the Ratz family, originally consisting of ten children only two brothers survive the deceased, namely Mr. George Ratz of Elmira and Dr. J. H. Ratz now officially employed as Medical Examiner, on the Dominion Pensions Board, Ottawa. One sister, Mrs. McMurtry, of London, Ont., also survives. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon. The bereaved have the sympathy of the entire community in their great loss. As a citizen the deceased will be greatly missed, he having been cordial, energetic and public spirited and at all times ready to do his share to the advancement of the community's interest. Comment: There were a couple times during the obituary that were illegible. Question marks (???) have been place. Elmira Signet 18 Jan 1917

  
  

• Sources

  [S3108] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 021511-10. Dav. D. Ratz, 35, occ. Banker, res. of Elmira, Son of John Ratz & Salome Haist Married Anna Myrtle Otto, 27, res. of Elmira, daughter of William H. Otto & Antonette Schmidt, Witn: Gordon Otto of Elmira & Amanda C. Kastner of Sebringville, 12 October 1910 In Elmira [S130] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1881, Div 2 Page 42 Family 194. [S98] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - Elmira Union CC#4578 Internet Link. David D.Ratz/ 1875 - 1917/ Aged 41 [S161] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1901, Elmira (Village) B. Page 17. [S130] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1881, Div. 2 Page 42. [S176] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1911, Div. 49 Pg. 7. [S77] News - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - Elmira Signet (1893-1982), Mr. D. D. Ratz, Manager of Royal Bank, Drops Dead - 18 Jan 1917. [S2057] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1891, Pg. 41.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 20 Aug 1875 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - clerk - - Perine & Co., Doon (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Methodist - 1891 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Bank Clerk - 1901 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Banker - 1910 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 12 Oct 1910 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Bank Manager, Bank - 1911 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Evangelical - 1911 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Royal Bank manager - 1917 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 13 Jan 1917 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth