Ingeborg Ratcliff

Ingeborg Dolores Ratcliff (Inky) beloved wife, mom, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend died on August 19, 2025. Her human experience on earth spanned more than 95 years. Born a first-generation American to German immigrants in Cincinnati Ohio, her early years were experienced against the backdrop of the Depression and World War II. After graduating high school in 1948, Inky was the first in her family to attend and graduate college, at the University of Cincinnati (UC). She then explored Europe with lifelong friends Irmgard and Conesy in 1954. In Germany she connected with family whom her parents left behind three decades before. Many of those relationships lasted a lifetime. In April 1956 she married Ralph Ratcliff, a medical school junior at UC. Inky and Ralphs’ journey together spanned nearly seven decades. A pivotal life change was their move from Cincinnati to Denver Colorado in 1963, where they raised their three children- Matt Ratcliff, Tim Ratcliff (Sue) and Karen Peinado (Emilio).

Inky was a natural organizer and loved to plan activities and vacations for her family. She extended her gifts to volunteer service at multiple organizations including the Women’s Medical Auxiliary, the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge, the Molly Brown House, Denver Natural History Museum and helping raise donations for a Colorado Medal of Honor recipient memorial. But family was ever most important to Inky, and that family grew to include granddaughters Alexandra Ratcliff, Lacey Peinado, Sara Hamdeed (Elijah), Emily Nelson (Cameron), and most recently great-grandson Casey Hamdeed. While she was able, Inky loved to gather her family together, enticed with lovingly prepared and delicious dinners. And her baking skills became quite elevated, especially at Christmas time.

Inky is preceded in death by her parents, Fritz and Fanny Schiller, and brothers Fred and Carl Schiller.

Inky is loved and loving, we here on earth miss her, even as her family and friends already in heaven greet her with joy.