BR. JOHN J. PLATTE, C.S.C.
Mar. 12, 1929-Aug. 3, 2016
NOTRE DAME, Ind. Br. John J. Platte, C.S.C., 87, died at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind. on Wednesday, August 3, 2016.
Br. John was born in St. Charles, Mo., on March 12, 1929 to Lawrence and Mayme M. (Steinmeyer) Platte. He attended St. Peter grade school in St. Charles and then St. Peter High School for one year before transferring to Chaminade College Prep in St. Louis.
After a year of study in the College of Commerce at St. Louis University, Br. John spent a period of reflection with the Benedictines at Conception Abbey. Recalling his time in high school with the brothers at Chaminade, he decided to be a religious brother in an apostolic community. He chose Holy Cross.
He entered Sacred Heart Novitiate in Jordan, Minnesota on August 15, 1951, and he made first vows there on August 16, 1952. After first profession, he was assigned to Holy Cross College in Washington where he worked in the finance office. The following year, he was assigned to the Provincial House in South Bend as secretary to the Provincial and administrative assistant to the provincial administration, and made his perpetual profession of vows at Notre Dame in 1955.
For the next 47 years, Br. John served as administrative assistant to six provincials, was a member of the Provincial Council for eighteen years, and attended many Provincial Chapters of the Indiana Province at that time. During this entire period, he lived at Moreau Seminary providing great companionship and example to the seminarians and residents there.
Having retired from Province duties in 2000, he accepted a half-time position as Facility Coordinator at the Coleman-Morse Center on the Notre Dame campus until 2011. He continued to reside at Moreau Seminary until 2014 when he moved to Holy Cross House.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Lawrence and Mayme M. Platte; sisters Marian K. Buschmann; Elizabeth M. Roche, and niece Mary E. Roche.
Br. John is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday (August 7, 2016) at Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, IN, where there will be a Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday (August 8, 2016) at the Moreau Seminary Chapel. Burial will be in the community cemetery at Notre Dame. Kaniewski Funeral Home, South Bend, is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Development, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0765 or online at donate.holycrossusa.org.
