Plotz, O.S.F.

Sister M. Charmaine Plotz O.S.F., 78, of Dubuque, died Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009, at Mount St. Francis, Dubuque. Services: 1 p.m. Thursday at Mount St. Francis Mother House, Dubuque. Visitation: 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Holy Family Hall and 7 p.m. at the Mother House. Burial: Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Dubuque.

She was born Theresa Marie Plotz on June 6, 1931, to Frank and Anna (Hiebel) Plotz south of Norway. She attended St. Michael grade school in Norway and Immaculate Conception Academy in Dubuque where she graduated in 1948. She attended Briar Cliff College in Sioux City for one year before entering Mount St. Francis in Dubuque on Aug. 25, 1949. On Aug. 12, 1950, she received the name Sister M. Charmaine. She completed her B.A. work graduating from Briar Cliff with a major in history and a minor in business. She received a M.A. in history from Loras College.

Sister Charmaine taught at St. Mary's School in Waterloo and central high schools throughout Iowa from Heelan in Sioux City, Wahlert in Dubuque, Kuemper in Carroll, and Beckman in Dyersville. She also earned a graduate certification degree in Pastoral Theology at Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods near TerreHaute, Ind. She was Pastoral Associate at St. Joseph's in Greeley for 11 years before retiring in June of 2003. She loved traveling and gardening.

Survivors are sisters, Margaret Frimml of Tama, and Agnes Nie of Jesup; brothers, Martin (Mildred) Plotz of Amana, and Walter (Dolores) Plotz of Swisher; sister-in-law, Helen Plotz of Marengo; and the Sisters of St. Francis, with whom she shared her life for 59 years.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Edward in 1926; mother, Anna in 1941; father, Frank in 1944; sister, Lucile in 1998; brother, Lawrence in 2006; and sister, Irene LaGrange of 2007.

Memorials may be made to Mount St. Francis, 3390 Windsor Ave., Dubuque, IA 52001-1326, in honor of Sister Charmaine.