Obituary

Deacon Placzek was a man of deep faith, generosity

Longtime Deacon Michael Placzek is being remembered as a faithful Catholic and a man who was always willing to help his parish in any way that was needed.

Deacon Placzek died Dec. 12 in Columbus. He was 92.

A funeral Mass was held Dec. 16 at St. Anthony Church, with burial at St. Bonaventure Cemetery, both in Columbus.

Born in Silver Creek and raised in Columbus, he attended St. Joseph Seminary in Westmont, Illinois, but before graduating he discerned a calling to serve in other ways.

In 1951 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Korea, after which he joined the Nebraska Army National Guard. He achieved the rank of Command Sergeant Major, the most senior enlisted rank in the army. He retired from the Guard in 1985.

Deacon Placzek was ordained Oct. 29, 1989, at St. Mary Church in Norfolk. Together with his wife, Agnes, they served St. Anthony Parish as lectors, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist and religious education teachers. Deacon Placzek established perpetual adoration at the parish, a devotion still practiced at the parish.

He also served as the parish’s first parish council president, and as a member of various parish and school councils and committees.

As a deacon he assisted at the altar, organized and scheduled deacons and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, taught Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and baptism classes, and conducted baptisms and wake services, among other duties.

“He was a very faithful Catholic and generous with his time in doing things for the parish,” said Father Lydell Lape, pastor at St. Anthony from 2003-2016, and now pastor of St. Mary Parish in Bellevue.

“He was a fixture there and somebody I could call on for help,” said Father Lape. “He was a very good man. I was blessed to know him.”

In 1997, Deacon Placzek was named Knight of the Year by the parish’s Knights of Columbus council for his contributions to the council, church and community.

He was preceded in death by parents, Michael and Mary (Laska) Placzek; son Steven; six brothers and three sisters.

Deacon Placzek is survived by his wife Agnes; sons, Tom (Kathy) of Columbus, Jerry (Bev) of Lincoln, Mark (Tammy) of Elkhorn, Jim (Lori) of Elkhorn, Paul (Pamm) of Allen, Texas; daughters Joan (Doug) Gubbels of Columbus, Ann (Lance) Lindquist of Wichita, Kansas, Sharon (Everett) Carlson of Fremont,  Mary (John) Boyle of Allen, Texas, Karla (Tim) Jones of Austin, Texas, and Chris (Noel) Sommers of Papillion; daughter-in-law Barb Placzek of Montana; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorials are requested to St. Anthony Parish, the parish school or Simon House in Columbus.

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