Claribel (Claire) Placzek died Monday, August 8, 2016 at CHI Health-Saint Francis Medical Center. A Memorial Mass will be 10:30 am, Saturday, August 13, 2016, at Saint Leo's Catholic Church with The Reverend James O'Kane officiating and The Reverend Don Buhrman concelebrating. A private family inurnment is scheduled following the service.

Memorials are suggested to Saint Leo's Catholic Church and the American Red Cross in lieu of flowers. Online condolences may be directed to www.livson.com. Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.

She was born August 8, 1933, to Clarence and Claribel Gates in Columbus, NE. She graduated from Kramer High (Columbus High School) in 1951 and moved to Chicago, IL, where she worked in the accounting office of E.P. Claires, while living with her sister. She returned to Columbus and worked for Consumer Public Power while continuing a six-year courtship with Eugene (Gene) T. Placzek. They married in 1954 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church.

Claire and Gene raised four sons, Daniel, Richard, Roger and Matthew, in Columbus until 1969, when they moved to Grand Island. Together, they spent several years converting a two-story farmhouse into the family home where they would live for years. As if raising four sons wasn't enough, Claire opened The Crock Pot, a restaurant that showcased her culinary skills. It moved from the basement of Stratton Hall in downtown Grand Island to the Conestoga Mall. Claire was a true chef and culinary artist, before culinary art was trendy. After The Crock Pot, Claire and Gene founded Harrison House, a brand of pies and cakes that were sold in grocery stores and at Village Inns.

When Gene died in 1998, Claire returned to Columbus for a few years to be with two of her sisters. She returned to Grand Island and resided at Riverside Lodge Retirement Community until her death.

Claire was a Red Cross volunteer, a member of Ladies of St. Leo's and, along with Gene, a charter member of St. Leo's Catholic Church in Grand Island. She enjoyed going to the family cabin at Sherman Reservoir, playing cards (specifically pitch), remodeling, decorating and cooking and baking. Above all, she enjoyed spending time with her family where gatherings oftentimes became raucous. The louder they became, the happier she was.

Her faith was an important part of her life and she looked forward to the day she would reunite with Gene.

Survivors include four sons and daughters-in-law: Dan and Cheryl (Brokering) from Grand Island, Dick and Lynell (Bloomquist) from Lincoln, Rog and Phyllis (Stahr) from Wichita, KS, and Matt and Kim (Kushner) from Omaha, 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren (+1 on the way).

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three sisters (Helen Weber, Marjory Michel and Dorothy Frese) and two brothers (Clarence and Ira Gates).