Vivian M. Plate, 86, of Grinnell, passed away peace-fully on Feb. 25, 2023, at UnityPoint Grinnell Regional Medical Center.
A funeral service was held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Mar. 4, at First Friends Church in Grinnell. Burial was in New Sharon Friends Cemetery following the service. Memorials may be designated to the Vivian M. Plate Memorial Fund, c/o Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.
Born on Feb. 29, 1936, in New Sharon, Vivian was raised by her mother, Helen (Brackney) Sim-mons, her grandmother Brackney, and “Aunt Peannie,” and attended school in New Sharon alongside her five beloved sisters Shirley, Ann, Marjory, Patricia, and Judy. Her love story with John E. Plate started more than 70 years ago, when she boarded a train to marry him on Sept. 24, 1952, in Amarillo, TX. John’s 20-year career in the Air Force carried them to many different homes away from home, and to their union the couple had four children: Debbie, Steve, Bob, and Tim. During that time, Vivian managed everything at home and cared for the children while John was away on assignment. When they eventually moved home to Iowa and after their kids were raised, Vivian graduated from cosmetology school and started “Reflections,” her styling salon. Over the years, she and John expanded their family to include grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild. Family was the center of Vivian’s world, and she had the most wonderful twinkle in her eye when she was holding a baby in her arms. She loved to cook for family and friends (her pecan pie was known far and wide), and she was an avid walker. She also loved to play cards, travel, and shop! For years, she and John and many fellow Montezuma Country Club couples traveled to golf tournaments across Iowa. When there wasn’t a golf tournament to play on a weekend, you could find many of them traveling across the state on their Honda Gold Wing motorcycles. The last 15 years, Vivian and John also enjoyed spending winters in Texas with their friends.
She is survived by her husband John Plate; her children Steve (Cindy) Plate, Bob (Mellisa) Plate, and Tim (Cindy) Plate; her grandchildren, Trisha (Brian) Smith, Jason (Kristen) Sosebee, Jon (Nichelle) Plate, Ryan (Alex) Plate, Andy Plate, Ryan Chapman, Cody Chapman, Emma Plate, Kaitlyn Plate, Madeline Plate, Jesse (Brooke) Schmidt, Cherie Schmidt, and Chad (Karley) Schmidt; as well as her great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchild, her sisters Pat and Judy, and her son-in-law Tom Sosebee.
She is predeceased by her mother Helen, her daughter Debbie Sosebee, and her sisters Shirley, Ann, and Marge.
