William John Rataczak, 86, of South Haven, died peacefully Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
He was born June 30, 1939, in Minneapolis, Minn., to John and Ann Rataczak, and was a force of nature in virtually all aspects of his life. No goal, challenge, or adversity was met in any way other than head-on. This trait was probably never more evident than at age 68 when, after being hit by a gravel truck while riding his bicycle, breaking his neck in two places and smashing his forehead, Bill declared in the recovery room that he would walk out of the hospital. Three months later, albeit with a halo still screwed into his head, he did exactly that.
Aviation was Bill’s passion throughout his life, and he earned his pilot’s license even before he could legally drive. Graduation from Minneapolis Roosevelt High School in 1957 was followed by a year at the University of Minnesota before entering the Air Force. Upon his return from active duty, Bill re-enrolled at the U, and married Judy Burgess in 1962. Within three years, the couple welcomed two children, and Bill graduated a proud Gopher and was hired by Northwest Airlines. He soon checked out on his first commercial aircraft, thus fulfilling his dream of becoming a professional pilot. Early in his career, the 32-year-old husband and father of (by then) three children was at the helm of flight NWO #305 when a bomb-threatening hijacker notoriously jumped out of the plane and into the night sky. Ultimately, over a 34-year career, Bill logged approximately 35,000 hours of flying time, and took great pride not just in safely flying his airplanes, but in ensuring his passengers had good experiences. Noted a member of NWA’s management after Bill’s final commercial flight, “Bill didn’t just fly airplanes, he flew people”.
Bill’s passion for aviation was exceeded only by his immense love for his family. They lived in a wonderful neighborhood in Burnsville before moving out to the shores of Bill’s beloved Lake Syliva in 1974. The family readily took to the Annandale community, and Bill’s force of nature spirit showed up in his leadership of the Annandale Hockey Association, the Annandale 10K Road Race, and the Heart of the Lakes Triathlon. Bill was an eager participant in all those sports, too, logging many hours playing and coaching hockey and running several marathons. Bill and Judy regularly hosted all manner of guests to their home at the lake, and they found great joy facilitating the myriad lakeside adventures of their seven grandchildren. High on the youngsters’ list of fond lake memories were the skating rinks Bill would plow and “zamboni” each Christmas. In retirement, Bill and Judy traveled extensively, but also encountered several serious health issues. In the end, the impacts of those, coupled with a life well-lived, finally caught up to Bill, but not before his humor and gratitude earned him the love and respect of so many of the staff who cared for him in his last year.
While Bill was well-known to be talkative, he was much more than just talk. He lived with great integrity and deeply-held values, and was active with his body, in his community and with his mind his entire life. A central tenet of Bill’s was leaving things better than he found them, and to that end he always did more than his share.
Bill is survived by his son, Michael Rataczak; son and daughter in-law James and Joan Rataczak; daughter Sarah Rataczak, beloved grandchildren Natalie, Jens, Jack, Grace, Leo, Eric, Max and Henry; great-granddaughter Violet; sister and brother in-law Katherine and Gar Bensen; brother David Rataczak; brother Scott Rataczak, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Thurs. Oct. 30 from 4-7 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Chapel in Annandale. A Celebration of Life will be held Fri. Oct. 31, at 12 p.m. at the Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel in St. Paul followed by a luncheon at Mendakota Country Club in Mendota Heights. Burial will be June 26, 2026, at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. The family asks that any memorial donations made in Bill’s memory be directed to Shriner’s Hospital for Children.
The obituary, tribute wall, video tribute, and funeral webcast are online at www.dingmannfuneral.com.