C. Ramsy Unruh died Sept. 29, 2011. He was born Oct. 15, 1961 in Morden, Man. to Cornel and Katy Unruh. His musical interests led him across North America. He met Shannon Ratzlaff while teaching music in Moose Jaw, Sask., and they married in 1992. Ramsy became the music pastor at Willow Park Church in Kelowna, B.C., that year, then at Eastview in Winnipeg in 1998. He developed an interest in helping people with the highs and lows of life, and accepted a job in 2003 as senior pastor at Community Fellowship Church, Newton, Man., where he continued to serve until his death. Ramsy was moderator of the MB Church of Manitoba 2009–10. Ramsy enjoyed bike riding, camping, bowling, storytelling, and donut runs with his family. He showed Shannon he loved her in hundreds of ways. Ramsy was creative, adventurous, brave, sometimes stubborn, both gentle and bold, willing to admit when he was wrong and to learn from his mistakes. He was never afraid to cry in public, and his boisterous laugh rang out in many a meeting or social event. Ramsy endured the trial of his brain tumour with grace and humour, continuing to think of others. Predeceased by his father, Ramsy is mourned by Shannon; children Katy, Tom, Jane; mother Katy; 4 siblings; parents-in-law Myrna Foster, Lloyd and Larraine Ratzlaff.
For more on Ramsy’s life, see “What did I do? Pastor awarded for community service,” April 2011.
