Gasper Ratto
Incident
Deputy Game Warden Gasper Ratto died of blood poisoning which he contracted two months earlier while conducting inspections at an Illinois Central Railroad station in Chicago. The blood poisoning was the result of a cut he suffered when cutting open boxes while inspecting packages for illegal fish and game.
Deputy Game Warden Ratto had served with the Illinois Department of Conservation for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and nine children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Game Warden Ratto gave the Illinois Department of Conservation 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Springfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Game Warden Ratto.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
Illinois Department of Conservation - Division of Law Enforcement has lost 13 officers; 1 of them lost to illness.
Gasper is one of 66 officers lost to illness in IL, 5% of the 1,318 remembered there.
Gasper is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Gasper is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1902, 1 officer in IL was lost to illness, the 7th heaviest of 13 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 16.
In 1902, 2 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 46th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 1902, 5 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 115th heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Gasper was 54. Of the 66 lost to illness in IL whose age is recorded, half were between 35 and 51; the middle age was 45.5. Gasper had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 13.2 years.
Gasper was 54. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Gasper had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Gasper was 54. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Gasper had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
February holds 7.6% of these deaths in IL; January holds the most, 19.7%. Tuesdays: 15.2%.
February holds 6.1% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
February holds 6.6% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Tuesdays: 13.8%.
How
Illness deaths account for 7.7% of all 13 deaths at Illinois Department of Conservation - Division of Law Enforcement, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 5% of all 1,318 deaths in IL, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
Illinois Department of Conservation - Division of Law Enforcement has 13 officers remembered here, Gasper among them.
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Gasper Ratto Feb 11, 1902
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G. Earle Eldredge
Feb 24, 1907
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Charles Marcus Eldredge
Jul 4, 1931
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Lee B. Davis May 22, 1938
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Otis John Whan
Jan 16, 1951
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William D. Miller
Dec 1, 1954
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John Arthur Fletcher Feb 17, 1957
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Howard Russell Bunting Feb 23, 1957
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George Giambiasi
Sep 4, 1959
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Robert H. Elliott Jul 15, 1970
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Eugene Allen Nov 17, 1972
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Loring Carr Nov 17, 1972
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Milton A. Rueck
Aug 19, 1973
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 54-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Illinois Department of Conservation - Division of Law Enforcement are honored on badge.nw.





