Foley, Minnesota
Vincent (Rawetkiewiez) Ratka, Jr., 93, of Spring Lake Park, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family June 17, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. Mass of Christian burial was June 20 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Gilman. The Rev. Matthew Langager officiated and burial with full military honors took place in the parish cemetery. Visitation was at the church Tuesday. Service with dignity provided by the Foley Funeral Home.
Vincent Joseph (Rawetkiewiez) Ratka, Jr., was born Feb. 6, 1930, in Gilman to Vincent and Celestine (Schueller) Ratka. He grew up near Foley and attended Dunwoody Institute, where he learned the electrical trade. He crop farmed, grew and sold vegetables and sold seed corn near Gilman for many years. Vincent was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union and worked as an electrician for Erickson Brothers and McKay Contractors until his retirement. He was a U.S Army veteran of the Korean War. Vincent enjoyed fishing, playing cards, spending time with extended family and was an avid collector of John Deere tractors.
He is survived by his sister, Frances Tadych, Spring Lake Park; brother, Jim (Doris), of Gilman; brother-in-law, Alden Secord, Foley; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Janet Secord, brother, Tony Ratka, brother-in-law, Allard Tadych, nephews, Jim Tadych and David Ratka and a niece, Sally and her husband, Randy Fjeld.
