John Hanratty

John Hanratty, age 64, of Ortonville, MN, passed away on Monday, November 25, 2024, at Ortonville Area Health Services Hospital.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at the Big Stone American Legion in Big Stone City South Dakota from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

John Andrew Hanratty was born on October 5, 1960, in Ortonville, MN, to Edmund and Mary (Parker) Hanratty. The youngest of eight children, he was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith. John grew up in Ortonville, where he attended school and graduated with the Class of 1979. Following high school, he pursued landscaping studies at Vo-Tech.

Throughout his life, John worked various jobs and lived in multiple locations before eventually returning to his hometown of Ortonville. Upon his return, he became a groundskeeper for Big Stone City, SD, a role he cherished. He was also a member of the Ortonville Moose Lodge. John found great joy in fishing with friends and hunting geese and ducks. Due to health challenges, he retired in 2021. John was affectionately known as “Chunk” or “Uncle Chunk,” he was loved by many.

He is survived by his siblings: Gerald (Ann) Hanratty; Marie (John) Bergwall; Connie (Kent) Novak; and Bonnie Kindt; all of Ortonville, MN; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents: Edmund and Mary; and his siblings: Eileen Voltz; Daniel Hanratty; and Joseph “Joe” Hanratty.