Michael Rateau

Michael Francis Rateau of Cumming, Georgia passed from this life on October 23, 2023 at the age of 80.

Preceding Michael in death were his parents: Aileen Grant Rateau of Atlanta and Paul Lewis Francis Rateau of New Orleans, LA. Michael was the beloved husband of Deborah Rateau and father of his daughter, Nicole Lorren Rateau, as well as the stepfather of Janie Hyler Gor of Cumming and Gretchen Hyler of Houston. Michael’s funeral service will be at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming on Friday, November 3rd, 2023, at 11:00AM. He will be entombed in the Columbarium following the service. Family and friends are cordially invited to attend.

Michael was born in May 1943 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia to Paul Lewis Rateau and Aileen Grant Rateau.

Michael grew up in the Little Five Points area. He attended William A. Bass High School and graduated in 1961. He began his college career at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He moved back to Atlanta and continued his education at Georgia State College, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Michael began his career at Western Electric Co. after graduation. In 1967, Michael was drafted into the U.S. Army. He did his basic training at Ft. Benning. After basic training, he was transferred to Ft. Stewart. Mike was then deployed to Vietnam and spent one and a half years at the Long Binh Post.

After his discharge from the U.S. Army in 1968, Michael returned to his job at Western Electric. Upon his return, he was transferred to New York City. For the next 30 years, Michael had working assignments with AT&T, later Lucent Technologies, in Atlanta, New Orleans, Charlotte, Birmingham and then back to Atlanta.

In 1993, Michael was appointed to Marketing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa. He transferred to The Netherlands for this position. Michael developed and implemented business plans for channel partner training facilities throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa. He opened facilities in the Czech Republic, Poland, Abu Dhabi, Spain, South Africa and the United Kingdom. He developed country-specific advertising plans, strategic trade show activities, customized marketing events and joint partner plans for more than 15 countries in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Michael retired after 35 years of service in 1998 .

Michael had a lifelong love of the outdoors and was a member of the Silver Bullet Hunt Club for 15 years. In addition, he made 10 trips to Alaska after retirement and enjoyed fishing for halibut, red, silver and king salmon.

Preceding Michael in death were his parents: Aileen Grant Rateau of Atlanta and Paul Lewis Francis Rateau of New Orleans, LA. He was the beloved husband of Deborah Rateau and father of his daughter, Nicole Lorren Rateau, as well as the stepfather of Janie Hyler Gor of Cumming and Gretchen Hyler of Houston. Michael’s funeral service will be at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming on Friday, November 3, 2023, at 11:00AM. He will be entombed on the grounds of the church at the Columbarium following the service. Family and friends are cordially invited to attend.

A visitation will be held on Friday, October 27, from 5:00-7:00, at McDonald and Son Funeral Home.
A memorial service will be at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming on Friday, November 3, 2023, at 11:00AM.