October 15, 1956 – August 30, 2025
Janice Ann Ratkovich, 68, of Mitchell, passed away Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Indiana University Health Bedford Hospital.
Born on October 15, 1956, in Bedford, she was the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Miller) Gilbert, the youngest of five children. She married Rick Ratkovich, her life partner, on September 17, 1976, and he survives.
She was a lifelong Mitchell resident. A 1974 graduate of Mitchell High School. A past member of Tri-Kappa, Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Mitchell. For many years, she and her family helped decorate the main street stage for the Mitchell Persimmon Festival. She was very artistic and loved crafting and working with silk flowers. She was a skilled seamstress, working on numerous wedding and prom dresses. She began her working career at the Bank of Mitchell. She worked at Regal Beloit and retired from Reynolds, Inc. in Orleans.
Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Rick Ratkovich; one son, Scott Ratkovich, and wife Ashley of Fayetteville; two brothers, Terry Ray Gilbert and Jackie Dale Gilbert, both of Mitchell; four grandchildren, Brink, Paisley, Nash, and Nellie Ratkovich; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Patty Jo Tirey, and one brother, Daniel Lee Gilbert.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 6, in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center with Pastor Marty Speer officiating. Burial will be in Mitchell Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 5, and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial gifts can be made in Janice’s memory to the Jacob Finger Methodist Church.
