Wanda Lee Platz

Wanda Lee Platz, 63, of rural Lake City, passed from this life on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Wanda was born in Mexico, Missouri, and grew up and graduated high school in Kansas City, Kansas. She served 5 years and 10 months in the US Army as a Medic and was honorably discharged as a SPC5 in 1980. Wanda lived and worked in Bolivar, Missouri, before moving to Arkansas in 1988 where she met and married Ronnie Platz.

Wanda began her health care career as a CNA and worked in the nursing profession while earning her LPN license. She continued her education while simultaneously working full time and earned a RN degree. Wanda worked as an RN at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis, Lakeside Nursing Center in Lake City and St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro before becoming disabled three years ago. Everywhere she worked her patients and the families of her patients adored her.

Wanda was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Trumann where she often served in the nursery. She was an avid reader and kept a Kindle with her containing a variety of books to read. She enjoyed being with her family and was preceded in death by her parents: Jack and Anna Riley Schnitzer Thurman, and three sisters: Margaret Black, Chris Vaughn and Cathy Wachs.

Survivors include her husband of 30 years, Ronnie Platz, of the home;
1 son and daughter-in-law: R.J. and Kodi Platz of Jonesboro;
3 daughters and sons-in-law: Crystal Valadez of Biggers, Amanda and Kevin Cunningham, and Amy and Hughey Brooks all of Jonesboro;
5 brothers: Jack "Butch" Thurman, Edward Garnett, Jake Thurman and Robert Ball all of Missouri, and Donnie Riley of Kansas City, Kansas;
1 sister, Joyce Johns of Lebanon, Missouri; and
11 grandchildren: Adam Modesto, Mateo Modesto, Bobby Wilson, David Modesto, Sarah Cunningham, Anthony Cunningham, D'Mari Brooks, Kamryn Brooks, Elliott Platz, Aleah Cunningham and Ryan Cunningham.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday at Calvary Baptist Church, 305 Bell St., Trumann, with Rev. Austin Missey officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Nettleton Cemetery with Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be 12 noon until service time in the church.

Active pallbearers include Bart Morrison, Bob McPherson, James Jones, Greg Hogg, Shawn Blanchard and Chris Hogg. Honorary pallbearers include grandsons Adam Modesto, Mateo Modesto, Bobby Wilson and David Modesto.