Arthur Plass Obituary

Arthur William Plass, 94, formerly of Elmhurst, was born October 31, 1915, on the Plass farm in what is now Addison, IL, and died at home in Sarasota, FL, January 29, 2010. He was a loving family man. Survivors include daughters Karen Plass and Debra (Steve) Newman; son Kurt (Josie) Plass; granddaughters Heather (Yann) Gehan, Kat (Kirk) Levato and Christina Nelson; great-granddaughter Camille Rose Gehan; sister Irene (Henry) DeBrock; sisters-in-law Eunice Plass and Alice, Irene and Joyce Goodman; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Clara (nee Ahrens), brothers Walter and Edgar (Irene), sister Helen (Chuck) Burrell, wife Esther, her sister and five brothers, and grandson Eric Newman. Art was a WWII Navy Seabee who served in England, North Africa, Sicily and Italy. In 1945, he returned home and found work at Elmhurst National Bank. On May 4, 1946, he married Esther Goodman, a red-headed nurse from Canada, who worked at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. In 1939, he started an appliance business with his brother Ed. After the war, he restarted the business and was joined by his brother Walter. In 1961, Art sold his share to Walter. It's now known as Plass Appliance, and is owned by Walter's sons. Over 35 years at Elmhurst National Bank, Art worked his way up from a teller to an executive vice president. He ran the loan department and specialized in commercial loans. His colleagues at the bank became lifelong friends, and he loved seeing his customers succeed in business. Art retired from the bank in 1980, and moved with Esther to Englewood Isles, FL. They had many good years in Florida. Esther passed away August 5, 2006. Art was cheerful and kind. He enjoyed both his career and his retirement. He loved his family and friends, and he never lost his zest for life. He will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held in the spring at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Elmhurst, Illinois.