John E. Rateau
August 22, 1921 ~ September 14, 2009
John E. Rateau, 88, of Weirton, passed away Monday, September 14, 2009 in the Weirton Medical Center. Born August 22, 1921 in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island, Canada, he was a son of the late Henri and Esther O'Toole Rateau. He was also preceded in death by his brothers James and Fred Rateau and sisters Edith Murray, Doris Porter, Margaret Bailey, Georgina Hovista, Alice Mehal and Elizabeth Lipan.
With 43 years of service, he retired from Weirton Steel where he worked as a combustion engineer. He was a member of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, Boy Scouts of America, Weirton Little League, WSX 25-Year Club, Weirton Police Reserves, Three-Score Seniors, Holy Name Society and F.O.P.A. John was the "Number One" football fan of the New York Giants and enjoyed shooting pool at the Weirton Senior Citizens Center.
Mr. Rateau is survived by his wife Dorothy Rasic Rateau of Weirton; sons Jon "Jay" H. Rateau and his wife Emily of Knoxville, TN and Robert S. Rateau and his wife Margaret of Moon Township, PA; daughters Renee Y. Howard and her husband Tim and Janeen S. Welch all of Weirton; eleven grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Friends will be received Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8PM at the Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main Street, Weirton. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10AM Thursday at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church with The Reverend Father Larry Dorsch presiding. Interment will be in the St. Paul Cemetery, Weirton.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 140 Walnut Street, Weirton, WV 26062.
Uncle Johnny we love you and will miss you so much. John & Ikey I will miss you, my best brother-in-law Donna
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you during your time of sorrow.
I am so sorry to hear that John died. I have so many fond memories of him. The world won’t be the same without him. Love, Jo Ellen
Dear Margaret, I am SOOOO VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS! Please know that all of my prayers are with you and your family! Take Care……..and please know…….I care! Joyce
Toots and Family I am so truly sorry for your loss. John will be sadly missed here in the neighborhood by everyone. My prayers are with you.
Dear Margaret, Bert, Mark and Chelsea, Please know that I am thinking of you and praying for you during this difficult time. I am saddend that you have lost one of your precious loved ones. Sincerely, Diana Stewart
I am so sorry to hear. I remember many fond memories of your family and a lot of fun conversations between John and my Dad. Love, Hilari
May you find comfort in memories and strength in each other’s love throughout this difficult time. We wish we could be there to comfort you – they say the heart remembers most what it loved best and we loved Uncle Johnny and he sure was the best!!!! Micalene, Dave, Nick and Ben
Dear Renee, Jay, Bert & Janeen, I hope you know how much I’ll miss your dad. Uncle Johnny was always the life of the party and it won’t be the same without him. Albert Jay
So sorry to hear about this… I was not at work and unaware until I read my email this evening… My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Candy
Uncle John always made me laugh. He had a such a way of lifting everyone up. Every time I think of him… it makes me smile. I will miss you Uncle Johnny. Denise
I feel so lucky to have had such a wonderful uncle in my life. Uncle Johnny always made everyone around him feel special. He had the greatest sense of humor, and I LOVED listening to his hilarious stories and jokes. I will miss him dearly. Kathy
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. May the coming days and weeks bring with it fond memories and surround you with love and peace. The Myers Knoxville,TN
To the Rateau Family, I am so sorry to here of the loss of John. I was use to John being involved in the many organizations that worked with the ones I belonged to from the fire department, to the rescue squad, to even Boy Scouts in my younger days. John always put his heart into what ever he did and he will be sadly missed. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
I am a friend of Gina Simmons and also a Caper from Nova Scotia. My condolence.
Uncle Johnny, I have so many wonderful childhood memories of you and your family. You’ll always be such a happy part of Jessica’s and my history. You will truly be missed by so many. Love, Sherry
I would like to express my deepest sympathy to all those related to and close to John Rateau. In the short time I knew him, his huge sense of humor and positive outlook on life put countless smiles on my face and those around him. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during these difficult days.
John and I would like to send our condolences. We remember the good time we had when you visited in the 80;s. John will really miss the phone chats .Uncle JOhn was always so funny. We are thinking of you.Love John and Marlene and family.
We are so saddened by the loss of a truly great man. We are so honored to have known him. We will miss his smile and sense of humor. Our love goes to the family. Love, Sean, Kristin, Douglas, Daniel and Devin
I want to give my greatest condolences to the family; at this difficult time i wish i could be there to share these precious moments. Uncle johnny was a part of my life and he will be sadly missed, and sadly missed by all for all the joy he gave people. Love Barbara and Dave
Dear Toots and children: Words cannot express how sad we feel.He certainly will be missed by so many. Our hearts and love go out to you all. Much Love! Duane & Diane
Pappy! I don’t know were to begin. You were and continue to be a big part of my life. I have such good memories of the time I spent with you. From the the times I was little walking down to the creek looking for snakes to sitting in my little rocking chair next to you watching Gilligans Island and Mr. Ed. You always made me laugh! I wouldnt be the person I am today if it wasnt for you. I will miss all the conversations we had talking about everything under the sun. I miss you singing put you sweet lips closer to the phone. I LOVE YOU and MISS YOU SO MUCH.
In Thanksgiving for Mr. Rateau who gave us Bert who is beloved, a joy, and a support to our colleague and friend, Margaret. Prayers and blessings are sent to the Rateau family and friends in the passing of one so dear. Most Sincerely, Kent State University Nursing Department faculty, staff and students F. Anne Freitas Ph.D., MSN, RNC, CNE ADN Program Director
Dear Tootsie Renee Jay Robert and Janeen and Families, Words can not express our sincere sympathy for your loss. I will treasure all the wonderful memories of growing up with John. He was a wonderful person and such a pleasure to know. I know he is in heaven helping everyone. I am so glad that my children got to grow up knowing this wonderful man. Ours prayers are with all of you.
Dearest Jay and Emily, Steve and I are thinking of you during this time. I am sure your father was a wonderful man leaving behind a lifetime of beautiful memories. With our Loving Thoughts and Prayers,Steve and Charissa
Our prayers are with the entire Rateua Family. God bless you. Kevin & Diane Bowers
Toots and family: My deepest sympathy. We have lost a truly wonderful friend and neighbor. He was an example of the best of humanity and had a heart of gold. May he rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with each of you.
You will be so sadly missed, Uncle Johnny. I will especially miss your wonderful sense of humor and good-natured, generous spirit. You were certainly a gift to our family.
DEAR TOOT,S AND FAMILY I AM BARB,S SISTER IN LAW DAVES SISTER . HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING UNCLE JOHNIE YEARS AGO AND 2 YEARS AGO WITH JAY. HE WAS A GREAT MAN AND HAD A GREAT OUTLOOK ON LIFE . HE LOVED U ALL AND WILL BE MISSED . PLEASE ACCEPT MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY IN YOUR LOSS LOVE TO ALL KAREN
Dear Tootsie and Children and Grandchildren, I think that John would be so proud to hear all the kind words said about him in the guestbook. He was truly a kind and caring man and I always enjoyed his funny stories that he talked about when he came in the bank on social security day………I would always ask him what’s going on in the neighborhood and he always had a story. We would also talk about our very special “serbian” spouses. We had that in common. He’s been so much a part of this neighborhood for years and years and will surely be missed. May God Bless you all, with our deepest sympathy and prayers, Mike and Janice
Dorothy and Family: John was the life of the party and one of-a-kind. He will be missed by all who knew him. Renie & Jody
For our friends and family who were unable to join us at today’s memorial service, I would like to share Dad’s Eulogy. Good Morning. For those of you who do not know me, I am Jon Rateau, the oldest son and one of four children, and I am joined today by my younger brother, Robert and my niece, Ali. Sitting among us are my older sister Renee and our younger sister, Janeen. It has been said that the loss of a parent is one of life’s most traumatic events. We now know the devastating truth of that statement. However, we’ve been told that in time, the hurt will fade and be replaced by happy memories that will be soothing to us. Already, my siblings and I can feel that happening. Maybe it’s because our father had a simple and loving relationship with us. Dad lived his life the best way he he knew how. He had a huge heart and a remarkable sense of humor. What more could any of us ask than to be loved and amused. My father did both with ease, he loved us and made us laugh. But, of course, there was so much more. Dad was a man that made sure that his family was taken care of even if it meant he had to sacrifice things important to him. His lifes work and proudest accomplishment was his family. Dad gave each of us his support and dedication during our formative years. We certainly owe him our respect and gratitude for helping us become the people we are today. He retired from Weirton Steel after a successful 43 year career without the advantage of a college education. However, he knew the importance of education and made sure each of his children had the opportunity to attend college. I know he was very proud of what we have accomplished in life, including raising our own families with the same level of love and laughter he gave us. At yesterdays showing, there was one common theme that people shared with us in terms of what they appreciated most about our father, his incredible sense of humor. He was the kind of person that would make everyone laugh. Who could forget Dads jokes, quick wit and musical talent. He always wanted to make people happy. On the way to Weirton earlier this week I noticed a bumper sticker that stated Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional. For me, that summed up my fathers free spirited ways we all love so much. Dad is in heaven now with his parents, brothers and sisters, and his many, many friends. Im sure he is happy there. Dads business was finished here and he was ready to go when his time came. We were also prepared knowing that the day was coming soon. All of us were with him the night he passed away. We said our goodbyes and somehow, letting him go that night was not so painful knowing that he was at peace and happy that we (his wife and children) were all together with him in his final hour. Dad has passed on and we are here at his funeral, so we would ask you all to think back now and remember how Dad touched your lives. How he made you laugh and what a good person he was. However, this is not the time for us to grieve his death, rather it is a time to celebrate his life. He never liked seeing people sad or crying. He wanted to make everyone happy. So at this moment lets wipe away the tears and give him our biggest and best smiles. Let me close by saying, Dad, please guide us as we live our life here on earth. Watch over us and protect us from harm. Dad, you will always be remembered and you will always live in our hearts for as long as we live. We love you so much. Our family would like to thank all of you for joining us here today. May God bless you and your families in the ways he has blessed our family.