William M. Rattenborg

William Milo Rattenborg, age 89 of Ft. Collins died Dec. 25, 2022, Christmas Day, at Poudre Valley Hospital, Ft. Collins. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, Jan. 3 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Ft. Collins. Interment in Cedar Falls, Iowa will take place in the spring.

Bill was born in Atlantic, Iowa in 1933 to Harry and Martha Rattenborg. He graduated from Atlantic High School in 1951 and earned his degree in civil engineering from Iowa State University in 1955. He married Christine Valentine on Dec. 26, 1958 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Over their 64 year marriage, they lived in Iowa, Illinois, Wyoming, and Colorado Springs before settling into retirement in Fort Collins.

At the beginning of his career, Bill served as a civil engineer for the US Air Force before becoming a civil engineer for Iowa Bridge in 1959. He joined Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel Company in 1960 rising to the title of plant manager. Under his leadership, they fabricated the steel for the beautiful arched bridge on I-280 that spans the Mississippi River between Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois. Bill completed his career as a civil engineer at Peterson Air Base and Falcon Air Base in Colorado Springs, retiring in 1996. Bill also served in the Air National Guard/Reserves, achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel.

Bill was an active longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Ft. Collins. He enjoyed camping, boating, fishing, and playing golf.

He is survived by his wife, Christine; son, Gregory (and Karen) Rattenborg of Ft. Collins; two granddaughters, Evan and Emma; and his sister Mary. He was preceded in death by his daughters, Leslie Rae and Ruth Alison Rattenborg, his sister Joanne, and his brother Jerry.

Contributions may be made in Bill's honor to St. John's Lutheran Church in Ft. Collins.