Joseph Plata

Joseph Plata, 64, died peacefully at home in Noblesville, Indiana, surrounded by his family on July 25, 2009. Joseph was diagnosed with kidney cancer in the winter of 2003, and he fought the disease with tremendous spirit and resolve, never losing his hope or dignity.
Joseph was born on March 26, 1945 inside a Nazi concentration camp in Neumarkt, Germany and was one of only seven newborns that survived the last six months inside the camp before it was liberated by American soldiers. He was married in Gdansk, Poland on July 6, 1968 to his high school sweetheart, Bozena.
In 1970, he graduated from the Technical Institute of Gdansk, Poland with a Masters degree in Electrical and Automation Engineering. In 1978, Joseph and Bozena courageously escaped the Eastern Bloc with their three young children through a Czech/Austrian border crossing with just a few suitcases and little bit of saved cash. Shortly there after, Joseph and Bozena placed their hopes for a better life on a packed AA flight from Germany, touching down on US soil on October 23, 1979. Joseph and Bozena (and kids) gained US citizenship on May 1, 1985. The family first lived in Batavia, Illinois and shortly after moved to Northwest Indiana, once Joseph started his career at Unilever (formerly Lever Brothers). Joseph worked for Lever Brothers for 25 years and held several positions including Systems Plant Project Manager and Lead Controls Engineer. He retired in the fall of 2005 though he continued consulting as an engineer for two more years.
Immediately following his retirement, Joseph and Bozena moved to Noblesville, Indiana to be closer to their family and into a home he very much loved with a nature preserve-like view of local wildlife on the pond just beyond the back yard. Joseph and Bozena found great friendship and support from a very active Polish Cultural Society of Indiana soon after moving to the Indianapolis area.
Joseph had a great passion for all that he set his mind to doing and thoroughly enjoyed every day of life. He enjoyed authentic Italian food, sometimes scheduling trips to Italy solely for the purpose of enjoying a good bottle of Chianti and pasta with porcini mushrooms with friends. Stateside, he took pleasure in a fine bottle of merlot, European and American history, walleye and pike fishing, tennis, and water sports. He loved to travel with his wife and, even during his illness, they continued to travel to the four corners of the world. He was a devoted father, grandfather, husband, and friend. Joseph never waivered in making difficult sacrifices, to make sure that his family had the best that he could provide.
He is survived by his wife, Bozena Plata and three children, Margaret (Travis) Dugan, Elizabethtown, KY; Joseph L. (Maria) Plata, Mt. Prospect, IL and Monika (Grant) McDougal, Carmel. Also surviving are grandchildren T.J., Gabby, Anna, Helie, Olivia, Mariella, Melina and Josefina; along with two brothers and two sisters and many, many dear friends.
Funeral services will be Thursday, July 30 at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Noblesville. Family and friends may call from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, Wednesday, July 29 at Randall and Roberts Funeral Home, Noblesville, where the Wake Service will take place at 8:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the IU Simon Cancer Center in memory of him (http://tinyurl.com/joseph-at-peace) - IU provided such loving care and support throughout the battle with his cancer.