Daryl J. Platek

Daryl J. Platek, 69, of St. Paul, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2019, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Grand Island. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. The Revs. Rayappa Konka, Ray Kosmicki and Matthew Koperski will concelebrate the Mass. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul with graveside military honors by Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119 of St. Paul. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church with a 7 p.m. parish rosary. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family. Daryl was born on Feb. 6, 1949, at St. Paul, the son of John R. and Dorothy M. (Nesiba) Platek. He grew up on a farm west of Farwell and received his education at Farwell Public School, graduating from Farwell High School in 1967. He then worked for Lukasiewicz Furniture in Farwell. He served in the United States Army from April 1969 to April 1971. He was united in marriage to Marie C. Koperski on May 23, 1970, in Farwell. After Daryl was discharged from the military they lived in Farwell until 1984, when the couple moved to St. Paul. Daryl worked for S.E. Smith & Sons Lumber in St. Paul as a cement truck driver for 22 years. In 1999, he began driving for Gerhold Concrete in Grand Island. He worked for them until 2011, when he retired due to health reasons. He continued to live in St. Paul until July 23, 2018, when he entered the VA Medical Center, where he lived the rest of his life. He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119, both of St. Paul. He was also a former St. Paul EMT. Daryl loved listening to music, playing the guitar, enjoyed classic cars and fixing up old cars with his sons. He is survived by his wife, Marie C. Platek of St. Paul; children and families, Jeanna and Layne Studley and daughter Rylie Reimers of Wolbach, Michael and Cami Platek and children, Ella, Claire and Sadye Platek of Nashville, TN, Jeffrey “Dean” and Kelli Platek and children, Addilyn, Ava, Emmery and Easton Platek of St. Paul; and sister and brother-in-law, Cindy and Ken Andersen of Omaha. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Lonnie Platek. Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.