Lawrence “Chappy” Plonsky, 88

Lawrence “Chappy” Plonsky, 88, of Heidelberg, passed away on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Fairmont. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 20, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Heidelberg. Interment will be held in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lexington.

Chappy was born on March 2, 1933, at home in Lexington to Peter and Cecelia (Konopik). He attended the one-room school house in Heidelberg, which is where he and Bernice built their second home in Heidelberg 23 years ago. 

Chappy worked many road construction jobs - so many that you couldn’t really drive without driving on a road he had worked on throughout the state in his younger days.

He was very proud to have worked at Fisher Construction (SA-AG) for over 40 years and putting a million miles on one truck that was painted red, white and blue like the flag. After retiring from Fisher, he was asked to help out for a couple days for Vlasak Trucking, which lasted over 10 years. He loved driving gravel trucks and could tell you anything you needed to know about gravel.

Chappy enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, and spending time with family and friends. He especially loved going to his granddaughters’ sporting events, concerts, recitals, and taking them anywhere they needed to go.

Socializing was his middle name, and he could spark up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. He always said, “Strangers are friends that you haven’t met yet.” Anyone who knew him knew he loved sweets and would often make sure to have one or two, “just to be social-able.”

Chappy is survived by his daughter, Crystal (Kevin) Zvanovec of Heidelberg; granddaughters, Nikole Zvanovec of Lakeville, and Elle Zvanovec of Heidelberg; special step-grandson, Michael Stopski Jr. of Northfield; two stepchildren, Mike (Claire) Stopski of Brimson, MN and Linda (Bob) Lambrecht of Holister, MO.; 12 step-grandchildren; many step-great-grandchildren; brother, Merlin Plonsky of Le Center; many nieces and nephews, other family and friends.

Chappy is preceded in death by his wife, Bernice; his parents; brothers, Clarence Plonsky in childhood, Leonard Plonsky and Richard Plonsky; sisters-in-law, Grace Plonsky and Carmen Plonsky.

Arrangements are with the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. 507-357-6116. On-line condolences may be left at www.schoenbauerfuneralhome.com.