Patricia "Pat/Patty" Jo (Plautz) Walker was born Jan. 21, 1947, in Seward to Don and Betty (Zillig) Plautz, and was the second of three children.
She grew up on the Plautz family farm northeast of Garland Township. She was baptized Feb. 24, 1948, and confirmed into the Lutheran faith on March 26, 1961, both at Zion Lutheran Church in Garland. Pat graduated from Garland High School in 1965, where she had participated in mixed chorus and mixed octet, cheerleading and pep club. She attended Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln and earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1969. While at NWU, she was actively involved in and a member of Interfraternity Council, Willard Sorority, Spirit Squad and Yellers of Brown; was elected W Club Sweetheart and was a beauty queen finalist.
Pat went on to teach, at both the junior high and high school levels, within the Aurora Public School District, from 1969-1988, in Aurora, Colorado. While there, she held the positions of a department chairperson, an assistant volleyball coach, the JV volleyball coach (with successive winning seasons), and an advisor of the Future Business Leaders of America. She moved into teaching business education at a college level, at San Juan Basin Area Vocational-Technical School (Pueblo Community College Southwest), beginning in 1989, in Cortez, Colorado. While there, she held the positions of the Head of the Business and Office Education Department and the Director of Continuing Education and Vocational Education. In 1990, Pat earned her master's degree in Business Education from Adam's State College in Alamosa, Colorado. She received the Teacher of the Year Award in 1997.
Throughout an illustrious teaching and administration career that spanned more than 30 years, and especially after entering into her retirement years, Pat enjoyed exploring the Anasazi Indian ruins, hiking in Canyonlands, traveling and spending time with her family and friends. She was the Plautz family historian, and she would never miss an episode of the “Jeopardy!” quiz show on TV. She was an avid arrowhead hunter, and she really enjoyed spending time at the Greenlee Ranch in Colorado. Perhaps one of her greatest accomplishments, alongside her former husband Dick Walker, was building a “Dennis Weaver style” house made of tires and aluminum cans, a type of house called an “Earthship.” Pat passed away Feb. 3, 2024, in Lincoln at the age of 77 years and 13 days.
She is survived by her sisters-in-law, Patricia Plautz of Lincoln and Elaine Plautz of Garland; her two nephews and their children, Darin (Gerri) Plautz of Omaha (Dylan and JJ) and Scott (Tracy) Plautz of Lincoln (Sydney and Mason); her three nieces and their children and grandchild, Chantel Plautz of Lincoln, Stacy (Jeremy) Kopecky of Garland (Karter, Keaton and Kysen), and Cassandra Cochran of Wichita, Kansas, (Jocelyn and Jaeden; Draylen); numerous cousins and other family; and a host of colleagues and friends - all of whom loved and miss her beyond measure.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Betty (Zillig) Plautz; her two brothers, Denny Plautz and Gary Plautz; her nephew, Steve Plautz; and her friend, Gale Greenlee.
A memorial service was Feb. 16. Memorial contributions will be designated by the Plautz family at a later time. Arrangements by Volzke Funeral Home.
