Virginia Belle Plouzek, age 97, of the rural Wilber, Crete area passed away on February 9, 2017, at the Pine Lake Country House in Lincoln. Virginia was born on January 15, 1920, in Bradley County Tennessee to Edna (Wallace) and Robert Lauderbach. Her family attended a Baptist Church. She completed high school in Cleveland, Tennessee. She moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, from Shelby, North Carolina, with 3 young sons in 1960 where 2 of her sisters and their families lived. With their help she found a place to live and began working at Western Electric in Omaha.

Virginia met Melvin Plouzek at the Playmor Ballroom and they started dating. After turning her garage into a repair shop, they sanded, chalked and painted Mel's boat so it would be ready to go fishing in the spring. Mel introduced the boy's to farming by getting them some baby pigs to bottle feed in the basement. Virginia and Mel were married in June of 1969.

Virginia helped where she could on the farm. She raised a large garden and had lots of flowers, her favorite were orchids. She prepared large meals when Mel had hired men helping with the farming. She canned and Mel helped with the preparing to be ready for winter.

When they were growing up Virginia was always there to let the boys know they were loved. She let them know she was proud of them. She was good at letting them know when they were in trouble, too. It's amazing how the telephone call would beat the bus home.

Virginia loved Mel dearly. One could just see it in them. They were more than a married couple, they were best friends. They enjoyed the neighborhood get-togethers at the farm, going dancing with friends, fishing trips and camping at National Parks. This had to stop somewhat when Virginia broke her hip.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Margaret McGowan and brother, Robert Lauderbach.

She is survived by her husband, Melvin Plouzek, Wilber; sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Kim Dedmon, Lincoln, NE, Bob Allen, Wilber, NE, John and Elga Allen, Milford, NE; sister, Eloise Stubbendick of Unadilla, NE. 4 grandchildren, Jimmy Dedmon, Tracy Giesman, John Melvin Allen, and Elisa Weimer and 8 greatgrandchildren, Marissa Page, Sarah Page, Riley Page, Jacob Weimer, Joshua Weimer, Draven Teller, Dexter Allen, and Preston Allen.


A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete, NE with the Rev. Roger Wolfe officiating. Memorials are suggested to the Hallam Volunteer Fire and Rescue. Condolences may be left online at kunclfh.com.