Michael Ratcliff

Michael “Mike” Lee Ratcliff, 67, of Newton, died Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. A celebration of life will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13 at Newton Church of the Way. The family will greet friends following the service with a coffee time at the church. Memorials in Mike’s name may be left at the church the morning of the service or at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.

Mike, the son of Gene and Betty (Dunham) Ratcliff, was born Aug. 17, 1949, in Grinnell. He grew up in Grinnell, and graduated from Grinnell High School in 1967. Following graduation he attended Marshalltown Community College and served in the Iowa National Guard. Mike was united in marriage with Linda Grimm Sept. 24, 1971, at the First Christian Church in Newton. They made their home in Newton. In 1977, Mike joined the U.S. Army where he served his country for four years. Later Mike received a degree in graphic design from Hawkeye Tech in Waterloo.

Mike worked as a graphic artist at the Vernon Company, a cheese maker at the Maytag Dairy Farm, then for 10 years he was a correctional officer at the Newton Correctional Facility, and most recently worked in the automotive department at Walmart. During the years he also worked at the bowling alley and was a D.J., owning H&M Music for 15 years. Mike was a member of the Newton Church of the Way. He enjoyed drawing, riding motorcycles, old cars and telling his grandkids stories.

Mike is survived by his wife, Linda Ratcliff of Newton; children, John Ratcliff of Newton and Amanda (Chris) Christensen of Clive; four grandchildren, Leta, Evy and Hudson Christensen and Mikhail Ratcliff; his sister, Kathy (Sam) Stoaks of Newburg; and a half-sister, Ty Ratcliff of Des Moines. He was preceded in death by his parents.