Negaunee Twp., MI – Esther Plattenberg, age 70, longtime resident of 26 Forge Rd., Negaunee Twp., passed away on Monday April 18, 2016 at her home while in the loving care of her family and the Upper Peninsula Home Health and Hospice.

Esther was born January 31, 1946 in Berkeley, CA one of the nine children born to the late Frank and Lempi (Koski) Peterson. She was raised in California but had spent her summers in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan until the summer of 1962 when she moved here permanently. She married the late Harold "Cookie" Plattenberg on August 3, 1963 and together they raised 5 children. From 1962 – 1970 she had lived in Michigamme and then moved to Negaunee where she had resided since. Esther was a graduate of the Adult Education Program at the NICE Community Schools in 1978.

Esther had worked for J.J. Security at the Marquette Co. Airport and then became the regional security training officer for Simmons Airlines before working for Great Lakes Airlines back at the Marquette Co. Airport.

Esther was a member of the Negaunee Lady Elks. She truly enjoyed her grandchildren especially when it involved cooking and baking. Being from a large family Esther was accustomed to cooking for many people and was never one not to have enough for anyone who she came in contact with. Esther also enjoyed playing cards and had played cribbage in the Negaunee Cribbage League.

Survivors include 5 children – Dianne (Robert) Botefuhr of Roselle, IL, Harold (Bobbie) Plattenberg Jr. of Fort Leavenworth, KS, Duane Plattenberg of Negaunee, Debbie (Phil) Argall of Negaunee and David Plattenberg of Negaunee, 12 grandchildren - Elizabeth, Bryan, Daniel, Tyler, Joshua, Meghan, Zoe, Sarah, Matthew, Ethan, Kassidy & Isaac, sisters – Marie (John) Lyford of Yuba City, CA, and Eleanor (Larry) Balagna of Negaunee, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law – Norm & Carol Plattenberg of Sugar Land, TX, Jerry & Carolyn Plattenberg of Champion and Karen & Rick Koski of Ishpeming, along with numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Harold "Cookie" Plattenberg in 2008, her parents Frank Peterson and Lempi Warlin along with 4 sisters and 2 brothers.

The Plattenberg family will greet relatives and friends on Thursday, April 21, 2016 from 10:30am – 12:00noon at the Bethany Lutheran Church, 550 Cherry St., Negaunee, MI. Funeral services will follow at 12:00noon on Thursday at the Bethany Lutheran Church with the Rev. Tamara Harder to officiate. Interment will take place at Northland Chapel Gardens.

Esther's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.

The funeral service recording, when it becomes available, can be found here .