Thomas Ratliff

Thomas “Tom” Ratliff, age 72 and lifelong resident of Garwin, Iowa, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on the morning of June 20, 2025 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa.

A celebration of life for Tom is planned for Saturday, July 5, 2025 from 10:00 A.M until 12:00 P.M. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. Memorials in Tom’s name may be directed to his family for a later designation. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Thomas Anthony Ratliff was born November 14, 1952 in Waterloo, Iowa. He was the third of four children born to Carson and Merrl (Whitmore) Ratliff. Tom was raised in Garwin, Iowa where he graduated from Garwin High School Class of 1971.

It was at school that Tom met the love of his life. In 1973, he married his high school sweetheart, Sheila Luethje at the Garwin Methodist Church. Together they made their home and the raised three sons, Anthony, Cory and Sean. Tom was a hard worker, retiring from the Tama Co. Road department after 39 years.

Tom was a member of the Marlin Collectors Association and the NRA. He was an avid gunsmith. He became known as the family BBQ master alongside his son Sean. Tom spent numerous years as a very proud Troop Leader for the Boy Scouts of America Garwin troop 394. He raised the bar as a troop leader organizing trips and outings as far away as Wyoming and the Boundary Waters. Tom was a real outdoorsman, turning the family farm into a wildlife refuge which they received an award for in 2024.

Tom loved to travel, especially with his family. Whether it was traveling to New York for hockey, all over the state for football, basketball or baseball, Tom would not miss his son’s or grandson’s games. Most recent he fulfilled his wife’s dreams of traveling the entire Route 66, Chicago to California.

Those left to remember and cherish his memory are his wife of 51 years, Sheila Ratliff; his sons, Anthony “Tony” (Jindi) Ratliff, Cory (Heather) Ratliff, and Sean (Tiffany Fouts) Ratliff; his six grandchildren, Noah, Mykel, Angel, Jazyk, Zadyn and Kyzen; one great-grandson, Kylo; five step grandchildren, Chance, Hunter, Kaylee, Aubrie and Paislee; He is also survived by his sisters, Carol (George) Siemens and Connie (LaVern) Jackson; his father-in-law, Allan Luethje and sister-in-law, Sherri Goettsch alongside numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Carson and Merrl; his brother, Kurt Ratliff and mother-in-law, Carley Luethje.