ANTHONY J. RATKIEWICZ Jr.

RATKIEWICZ ANTHONY J., Jr.
Age 84, of Bethel Park, on Fri., Jan. 6, 2017. He was born March 3, 1932, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Anthony and Lidia Ratkiewicz, Sr.; beloved husband for 63 years to Mary Jo (Pillion) Ratkiewicz; dear father of Denise (John) Schaefer, Don Ratkiewicz, Christina Lowe, Germaine (Steve) Headrick, Renee (Vince Wiederkehr) Ratkiewicz, Juliana (Larry) Dickson, Tony (Kim) Ratkiewicz III; also survived by eight grandchildren, Chelsea, Autumn, Tanner, Ezra, Zarek, Tallulah, Anthony IV, Theresa; brother of the late Michael (Rose) Ratkiewicz and Marlene (Robert) Bowser. As per his wishes there will be no visitation. Anthony J. Ratkiewicz after a courageous eight-month battle left knowing how great a husband, father, brother, Poppy, and friend he was. Known affectionately as "The Big Cheese" and by his signature catch phrase "Great Balls of Fire!", Tony retired as a superintendent of US Steel after 34 years. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh's school of engineering he earned his Electrical Engineering degree in 1959. A strong sense of duty and patriotism led him to enlist in the US Air Force during the Korean War where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. He started first as an airplane mechanic and later was selected for a number special assignments in development. Tony loved being the boss at work and home and could be a difficult man to get to know. He was a strong man who was feared by many but loved by all that had the pleasure to get to know him. He never wavered or pulled punches and he told it like it was. You got what you saw and he was fair to a fault. He had a strong work ethic that made it difficult for him to sit still even in his retirement years as evidenced by the many projects he was constantly working on for himself and mostly others. He loved to work with wood and was an accomplished carpenter. He loved to tell and share stories of his past triumphs and he would drop everything for a person in need which was frequently his children and grandchildren. Tony lived life on his own terms and will be missed by all that knew him. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 3, 2017, his birthday, as a celebration of his life at St. Thomas More Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow with Military Honors in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Thomas More Church in memory of Tony.
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