William Plate (2014)

PLATE, BRABBIT, EVENSON, LONNING, CORY, BERGMAN, PAPOUSEK, SHANKS, MUEHLENTHALER, SMITH, FOLEY, KOCHHEISER

Posted By: Shirley Keating (email)
Date: 4/8/2014 at 20:52:24

Johnson Family Funeral Home
Earlham, Iowa

William Plate, 82, and Mavis Plate, 82 of Earlham passed away on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Visitation will be held together from 5-7 P.M., Wednesday, April 9th at the Johnson Family Funeral Home in Earlham with cremation to follow. Memorial service will be held at 11 A.M. on Thursday, April 10th at the Early Chapel Christian Church in Rural Earlham. Burial will be at the Earlham Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to April Bergman, in care of Johnson Family Funeral Home, PO Box 171, Earlham, Iowa 50072. Online Condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com .

William was born April 16, 1931 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Arnold Otto and Florence Brabbit Plate. He grew up in various cities in Wisconsin and Minnesota. William enlisted into the United States Air Force in 1948 and served in the Korean War before being honorably discharged in 1952. After his discharge, William moved to Winona, Minnesota and it was in Winona he met his future bride Mavis.

Mavis was born August 17, 1931 in Canton, Wisconsin to Marcus Anthony and Hannah Regina Olson Evenson. She grew up in Chetek, Wisconsin and graduated from Chetek High School. She later moved to Winona, Minnesota where she was employed at the Red Owl a local grocery store.

William and Mavis were united in marriage on September 6, 1952 in Winona, Minnesota and together they became the proud parents of five children, Steven, Billie Jo, April, David and Beth. After their marriage they lived in Des Moines, Iowa and Decatur, Illinois before settling in Alleman, Iowa. They lived in Alleman until 1988 when they made their home in Earlham.

William was employed for many years at Firestone Tire and Rubber in Des Moines, retiring in 1985. While living in Alleman he owned and operated a saw sharpening shop, served on the city council, was past Mayor of the city of Alleman and belonged to the Ankeny Masonic Lodge in which he was Past Master. After his retirement, William enjoyed keeping himself busy by working at Dexter RV Repair in Winterset. He also belonged to the Earlham American Legion post 158 in which he was Past Commander. He and Mavis were also members of the Early Chapel Christian Church in Earlham.

William and Mavis both enjoyed gardening, playing cards, hiking, traveling, wintering in Arizona and Texas, but most of all they enjoyed spending quality time with their family.

William is preceded in death by his parents, Arnold and Florence Plate, and two siblings, Lois and Jim, and one infant great-grandchild Aiden Lonning.

Mavis is preceded in death by her parents, Marcus and Hannah Evenson, siblings, Evelyn, Hazel, Mildred, Norma, Marcus and Windell and one infant great-grandchild, Aiden Lonning.

Survivors include, five children, Steven (Marilyn) Plate, Billie Jo (Ron) Cory, April (Jack) Bergman, David (Cheryl) Plate and Beth (Dean) Papousek. Williams brother, Robert and his wife Carol Plate; Mavis's two sisters, Joan (Lane) Goad and Delores Ours; grandchildren, Heather (Rocco) Shanks, Stacey (Brett) Lonning, Kelly (Scott) Muehlenthaler, Amy (Rob) Smith, Scott (Mhairi Foley) Kochheiser, Joe (fiancée Jessie) Bergman, Jeff Bergman, Samantha Plate, Emily Bergman, Abbey Papousek, Hannah Plate, Robin Papousek, Andrew Papousek, and Rebecca Plate and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends all of whom will miss them greatly.

(Arrangements: Johnson Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services – Earlham Chapel).