Richard Plasencia

RICHARD PLASENCIA

Cedar Rapids

Richard Zachary Plasencia died Friday,

Dec. 12, 2014, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. The Rev. Phil Thompson will officiate at the service. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home with a vigil service starting at 3:30 p.m. Burial will be at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.

Surviving is his wife, Margaret; children, Richard (Angela) Plasencia of Garrison and Lucia Plasencia (Tom) Jones of Shawnee, Kan.; two grandchildren, Lilian and Elizabeth; and stepmother, Adelaida.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his dogs, Gretchen, Anchor, Flower, Baron, Brandi Rose, Macho and Dickens.

Richard was born Nov. 5, 1934, in Havana, Cuba. He was the son of John and Gloria Hernandez Plasencia. He was a graduate of the University of Miami. On Feb. 4, 1967, Richard and Margaret Brett were united in marriage in Hialeah, Fla.

Richard worked for Rockwell-Collins as an engineer from 1965 until he retired in 1995. He was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, Cedar Valley AM Astronomers, AM Radio Relay League for 50 years, the Quarter Century Wireless Association and the Mount Mercy Heritage Club. He enjoyed building his own backyard astronomy building, reading, writing, painting art, sailing, making bread, sausage and cooking. But the thing he treasured most was the time he was given to spend with his family and friends. Richard always showed strength, courage, dignity and was a humble man. He will be missed dearly by those closest to him.