Frederic W. (Fritz) Ragatz

I was born in Madison, Wisconsin on March 30, 1943. My parents were W.L. (Bill) Ragatz and Rosanna Kindschi Ragatz. I died on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Survivors include my dear wife, Barbara. I was preceded in death by my parents. I attended Nakoma Grade School, Cherokee Junior High School, West High School and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Luckily, I graduated from all four! Upon graduation in 1965, I joined the Wisconsin National Guard and was sent to Fort Lewis, Washington for training. When I returned home, I went into the insurance business. In 1971 I started a lifelong career in retailing as the owner of Oriental Specialties, a store selling imported items from the far east. Upon marriage, my wife quit her job as a Dane County Deputy Sherif (she had also spent two years in the Army) and joined me in business and became the driving force behind the store. This allowed us to travel to the Far East annually to select merchandise for our stores. After China opened, we were able to secure invitations to the Canton Trade Fair which we attended every year. We were located on State Street for 25 years and operated a second store in Hilldale. I retired at age 65 after 37 years as a small business owner. While at the university, I played on the first hockey team of the “modern” era, earning letters in my junior and senior years. Before and after college, I played for the Madison Cardinals Senior Men’s Hockey Team. After retiring from hockey, I discovered golf, which became an addiction that I was never able to overcome. As a member of the Nakoma Golf Club, I had the opportunity to make great friends and play, rather poorly, a game that I dearly loved. I became involved with the Vilas Zoological Society as a board member and thoroughly enjoyed serving for 25 years. I have had a wonderful life, and I only regret not making more people laugh. I have lived by the philosophy that growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional. I hope that I have returned to my dear wife some measure of the joy and happiness that she brought to me.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 22, 2025, from 1 – 4 pm at the Nakoma Golf Club, 4145 Country Club Road, Madison, WI. 

Thanks everyone and hoist one in my memory!

Please share your memories of Frederic “Fritz” by posting in his Guestbook.

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

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