George Plesha Obituary

George F. Plesha Jr., of Mesa, AZ, formerly of Lyons and McCook, IL and Slidell, LA, was born on July 2nd, 1935, to George and Marie (nee Ruzich) Plesha. He passed into eternity after a brave fight with leukemia on May 16, 2008, at Banner Baywood Medical Center in Mesa, AZ. George attended St. Hugh Grade School in Lyons, IL, and graduated in 1953 from Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, IL. In 1957, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Management with a minor in Industrial Engineering from Quincy University in Quincy, IL, where he lettered in football and baseball. He and Mary Patricia (Patty) Cleary of Boonville, MO, were married on June 9, 1956. They retired to Mesa, AZ, in 2001, where George enjoyed golfing, working out at the fitness center, playing cards and attending the Broadway Palms Dinner Theater with Patty. Among his employers throughout his engineering career were: Brach's Candy, Campbell Soup, Hall Printing, and the U.S. Postal Service in Forest Park, Chicago and New Orleans. He was cited by the U.S. Postmaster General for his work in energy efficient lighting. A devoted father and husband, George spent his time teaching his children the finer art of catching baseballs with both hands, counting cards for pinochle and gin strategies, and putting the correct English on any bank shot in Eight Ball. He was a lifetime member of the Lyons Mustangs and an inaugural member of the prestigious Croatian Athletic Union. He is survived by his wife of nearly 52 years, Mary Patricia; daughters, Dr. Julie (Kenneth) McGwin of Montello, WI, Karen (Ronald) Pettit of Slidell, LA, Terese (Elvin) McCammond of Berwyn, IL; and sons, David Plesha (Kellie Sullivan) of Brookfield, IL, Daniel (Sandra) Plesha of Portland, OR, and Bryan (Julie) Plesha of Aurora, IL. He is also survived by his grandchildren Sam and Maggie McGwin, Damon and Danielle Pallanti, Elvin and Patrick McCammond, Claire and Gabriel Plesha, and Allison, Valerie and Cory Plesha, and is further survived by his sister Joy Zamecnik of Dallas, TX. In addition, he leaves behind many relatives and friends from across the country. A memorial service was held in Mesa, Arizona, at the Marisopa Gardens Chapel on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. Funeral services in Lyons, IL are pending. Alumni from the teams he coached through Lyons McCook Little League are invited to be honorary pallbearers. Memorials may be made to St. Hugh's Church Building Fund.