Gretchen Josephine Platz-Zilliox, 37, of La Crosse , died on Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.
She was born on Dec. 5, 1966, in La Crosse to David and Jacqueline (Krzyzanowski) Platz.
She married Jeffery A. Zilliox on Sept. 9, 1989, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Onalaska.
Gretchen was manager of Marineland of Onalaska. She was a scuba dive instructor and she loved the ocean.
Her daughter Emily was born on July 22, 1999.
In addition to her husband, Jeff, she is survived by her daughter, Emily at home; her parents, David and Jacqueline Platz of Onalaska; a sister, Lisa (Algie) Wolters of Trempealeau, Wis.; a brother, Nicholas Platz of La Crosse.
I remember seeing Gretchen for the first time at an 8th grade girls basketball game at St. Thomas More school.Our Trojan girls were playing their weekend game in the gym and a bunch of my Saint Tom classmates would stop over and watch.Gretchen was the St. Pat’s point guard and she really stood out from the rest of team.What really caught my eye (and others) was her bright blonde hair against the Kelly Green uniform.
Gretchen and I joined the marching band at Aquinas as freshmen.We were both in the percussion section – I was the backbone of the Drum Line (yeah, right) and she played the marimba and marching xylophone.It was always an impressive sight to watch her, Lisa Seebauer, Molly Wannemuehler and Molly’s older sister Julie play a musical piece on the marimbas in the band room.Those marimba mallets would just fly.
We were sophomores (I think) when both of us along with some other band members won a Gold First Place for our percussion ensemble solo at the State Music Festival.This was when the band had reached its peak. It was big and we had some talent.Both of us played in the pep band at the basketball games at the La Crosse Center.The pep band was a small ragtag group but we made a big sound and had a lot of fun doing it.A-Q-U-I-N-A-S, Aquinas!
During our junior year Gretchen became the marching band drum major.She looked damn good wearing the white uniform with her bright blonde hair underneath the Aquinas blue hat.During my senior year I had to quit the band due to a class conflict but I still remember Gretchen leading them as drum major during halftime at football games and in the Oktoberfest parade.
Gretchen Platz was a very friendly girl and we had a lot of fun together during those early band years.We would always find time to talk and laugh on the band bus trips, at practice and in the Pep Band.
As I am writing this, I realize that I miss the girl with the big smile underneath that beautiful blonde hair.
I really wish I could sit down across from her and have some drinks and think back to those Aquinas band years.
It is so sad that she is no longer here.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon her.
Steve Kuhl
Gretchen Josephine Platz
Gretchen Josephine Platz-Zilliox, 37, of La Crosse , died on Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.
She was born on Dec. 5, 1966, in La Crosse to David and Jacqueline (Krzyzanowski) Platz.
She married Jeffery A. Zilliox on Sept. 9, 1989, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Onalaska.
Gretchen was manager of Marineland of Onalaska. She was a scuba dive instructor and she loved the ocean.
Her daughter Emily was born on July 22, 1999.
In addition to her husband, Jeff, she is survived by her daughter, Emily at home; her parents, David and Jacqueline Platz of Onalaska; a sister, Lisa (Algie) Wolters of Trempealeau, Wis.; a brother, Nicholas Platz of La Crosse.
I remember seeing Gretchen for the first time at an 8th grade girls basketball game at St. Thomas More school. Our Trojan girls were playing their weekend game in the gym and a bunch of my Saint Tom classmates would stop over and watch. Gretchen was the St. Pat’s point guard and she really stood out from the rest of team. What really caught my eye (and others) was her bright blonde hair against the Kelly Green uniform.
Gretchen and I joined the marching band at Aquinas as freshmen. We were both in the percussion section – I was the backbone of the Drum Line (yeah, right) and she played the marimba and marching xylophone. It was always an impressive sight to watch her, Lisa Seebauer, Molly Wannemuehler and Molly’s older sister Julie play a musical piece on the marimbas in the band room. Those marimba mallets would just fly.
We were sophomores (I think) when both of us along with some other band members won a Gold First Place for our percussion ensemble solo at the State Music Festival. This was when the band had reached its peak. It was big and we had some talent. Both of us played in the pep band at the basketball games at the La Crosse Center. The pep band was a small ragtag group but we made a big sound and had a lot of fun doing it. A-Q-U-I-N-A-S, Aquinas!
During our junior year Gretchen became the marching band drum major. She looked damn good wearing the white uniform with her bright blonde hair underneath the Aquinas blue hat. During my senior year I had to quit the band due to a class conflict but I still remember Gretchen leading them as drum major during halftime at football games and in the Oktoberfest parade.
Gretchen Platz was a very friendly girl and we had a lot of fun together during those early band years. We would always find time to talk and laugh on the band bus trips, at practice and in the Pep Band.
As I am writing this, I realize that I miss the girl with the big smile underneath that beautiful blonde hair.
I really wish I could sit down across from her and have some drinks and think back to those Aquinas band years.
It is so sad that she is no longer here.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace. Amen.