Joseph Julius Plauka, was born in Newark, NJ on August 4, 1923 the son of the late Joseph Plauka and Maria Lovick Plauka. He married Emeline Grunow on February 25, 1950 and is survived by his wife of 59 years, and two daughters, Dr. Gail V. Plauka of Chesapeake, VA, Jody L. Schoen and husband Dennis of Los Olivos, CA; four grandchildren, Lauren Kaplan, Alyssa Kaplan, Kyle Schoen, and Colin Schoen.

He graduated from Newark College of Engineering (now The N.J. Institute of Technology). He was employed in various capacities by Western Electric Company which was part of the A.T.&T systems. He retired with over 40 years of service in 1982 as a department chief of Microwave and Turnkey Engineering. His ASTP Engineering Training at the University of Michigan was interrupted as he was called to serve in the U.S. Army as an infantry replacement in the European Theater during WWII with the 28th Division, 112th Regiment. He saw combat in the Hurtgen Forest, Battle of the Bulge, and Colmar. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. After residing in Atlanta for 35 years they moved to a retirement golfing community in McCormick, SC, Savannah Lakes. He took part in the building of the only Lutheran Church in McCormick County, Lutheran Church by the Lake. In 2002 they migrated to Lake Prince Woods, Suffolk, VA, another retirement village, to be closer to family and grandchildren. They became members of First Lutheran Church, Norfolk.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Dr. William Trexler officiating. Inurnment will be held the same day at 2 p.m. at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk, VA with military honors. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the First Lutheran Church Building Fund at 1301 Colley Ave., Norfolk, VA 23517 or a charity of one's choice. Condolences may be registered online at www.parrfuneralhome.com.