Michael A. Wratten Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Michael A. Wratten, 54, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 3, 2022. Born on September 23, 1967, Michael was the son of Wendell and Virginia (Barnes) Wratten. He grew up on his parent’s dairy farm in North Brookfield and graduated from Waterville High School. He had a special bond with each and every one of his family members. He had a passion for action movies and G.I. Joe action figures which led him to study and obtain his fifth- degree black belt in the Goju-ryu style of Karate. He worked diligently to get his nieces, nephews, and children to learn the “proper” way to play with G.I. Joes while sometimes refusing to take them out of their boxes. He was a movie aficionado and could tell you the title and the details of a ridiculous amount of movies! In his 20’s, Michael discovered he had a love for the theatre. He was incredibly talented and performed with great enthusiasm in numerous plays and musicals at the Players Theatre of Utica, and the Capitol Theatre in Rome where he met his future wife. On February 13, 1999, Michael married Jennifer Reynolds in St. Mary’s Church, Clinton. They had a wonderful life together welcoming three beautiful children. Michael was a dedicated and fabulous husband and father always putting his family first. Dinner table conversations were always a highlight as his children shared his same sense of humor. He was wildly proud of his wife and children - he adored his family. Words of encouragement and congratulations were numerous and frequent. It was his most important mission to ensure that his family was happy, comfortable, and safe. The loss to his family is profound. Michael worked at Utica National for 16 years. He loved coordinating many of the social outings and fostered lifelong friendships with an innumerable amount of people. In 2004, Michael made a huge career change by becoming an apprentice to George Nassimos and learned to be a master carpenter. He considered this to be one of the best decisions he ever made. He had a natural aptitude for his craft and was always incredibly grateful to Georgie for teaching him the “right” way to do things. His training and his meticulous attention to detail made him an extraordinary carpenter. He spent his life making his house perfect for his family. In 2013, Michael accepted a position at Hamilton College to continue working as a carpenter. This was a tough decision, but one made with his family in mind. He loved his job at Hamilton! He had a wonderful relationship with the people he worked with, but also thoroughly enjoyed working with the faculty, staff, and students on a daily basis. The carpentry shop could share many stories about the shenanigans he initiated. He had a gentle disposition and made those around him feel immediately welcome and comfortable resulting in his countless friendships. He was always eager to share the latest joke or the newest movie and you couldn’t help but to join in his laughter. He was riddled with charm and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Michael is survived by his wife, Jennifer; children, Elizabeth, Alison and Jack; his mother, Virginia; brothers and sisters-in-law, Hugh and Bonnie Wratten, W. Paul and Connie Wratten, Brian Wratten, and Roger and Miyo Wratten; sister and brother-in-law, Barbie and Doug Hungerford; in-laws, Peggy and Jeff Burgess, and Erin and Mark Andrews along with more than 100 nieces, nephews, and cousins, and numerous Aunts and Uncles. Michael was predeceased by his father, Wendell, and in-laws, George and Barbara Reynolds. Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Monday, July 11, 2022, from 4-6 p.m. at McGrath, Myslinski, Karboski & Nunn Funeral Directors, 470 French Rd., Utica. Funeral services will be on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish, Our Lady of Lourdes campus, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. In lieu of flowers, please consider remembrances in Michael’s name by making a contribution to his children’s education via Jennifer Wratten. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Messages of sympathy at www.mmknfd.com

Michael A. Wratten

September 23, 1967 - July 3, 2022