Maryanne Ratcliff

Maryanne Ratcliff (nee DeMoss), passed away November 10th, 2021 in Nashotah, WI at the age of 85. Maryanne was born in 1936 in the town of Ottawa, Illinois and was an accomplished music student, earning degrees in Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University. A lifelong educator, her teaching career began at the Richwoods School in Peoria, Illinois, following her graduation from Wesleyan. While at college, she met John Ratcliff, a student at nearby Bradley University and they married in 1959. John and Maryanne settled in Belvidere, Illinois and started a family. The family later moved to Wisconsin, where Maryanne taught choral music at the Richfield School District. Known for her limitless energy, Maryanne was an avid hiker, walking miles of trails with her friends in the Oconomowoc area, Lake Geneva, Door County, and most recently in the summer of 2021, Galena, Illinois. Following her official retirement from Richfield, Maryanne returned to teaching shortly thereafter, substituting at Richfield and Arrowhead school districts. Up until her passing, Maryanne taught hundreds of students in a variety of subjects, jumping at every opportunity to greet a fresh group of students. Even during the pandemic, Maryanne shrugged off the idea of quarantine and headed straight for her favorite place: the classroom. With her bright smile, her signature enthusiasm, her love for music and teaching, Maryanne was loved by her hundreds of students; her many close friends and colleagues, and her family. She is survived by her husband, John; four children; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A visitation for Maryanne is planned for Friday, September 9th from 3:00pm to 5:00 pm at the Pagenkopf Funeral Home, 1165 E. Summit Avenue in Oconomowoc, WI.