To all members of the Plevak and Kleinschmidt families:

Losing someone we love is never easy.  And it is obvious that Tony was loved deeply and by many.

Being a distant cousin, I didn't have much interaction, directly, with him...but loved him as much as I love the remaining members of his family! 

Loretta, Dave, Matt, Catherine:  Know that you are loved and my heart goes out to each of you and your families.  Life continues, and our loss lessens, as the days fly by.  Tony will be cherished and remembered in our everyday actions - especially when meeting someone or doing something he loved.

Remember the cacti?  Very prickly, even hurtful, but still alive and growing.  That's how love and memory go.

Judy (and Rich) Freimark

After attending Tony's funeral today, I can only think how much I wish I had known him.  What a blessing he was to so many, and how fortunate they could express their appreciation and love for Tony.  My blessings to the Plevak family, and especially to my dear new friend Loretta.    

Dear Matt,

So sorry to hear of your tragic loss.  I am sure it has left a void in your life that is unfillable.  I know it may not seem like it now, but time does heal all things. You have memories to reflect on and remember what a great person he was.   I pray for Gods comfort and peace for you and your family at this time.  

Deb Albrecht

I am deeply saddened to hear of the loss of our cousin. May God wrap you all in his peace and comfort. May the memories of his presence help you in his absence.

God bless you all!

Love,

Maria and family

Dave, I'm sorry for your loss of Tony. 

He sounds loving and dynamic much like you.

With shared love,

Jerry Porter

I am shocked and saddened to hear of Tony's accident!! I am thankful to Chris Miller for calling me before I saw it in the obituary!!I have only known Tony for 4 years but they were 4 years of depth,laughter, discussions about spirituality, psychology and the oddities of life as we worked together as caregivers for Deborah,Jane and Alfonso kitty the last few years. Tony was always there for me in a pinch, he helped me move, go thru my mama's belongings after her death even drove my car back from the twin cities for me. Tony and I shared our love of books and reading often sitting in the library reading together. We had a very similar life story with psychology BA and MA in Educ/Social Work and interest in bettering the world. We came to Rochester the same year for the same reason, it was almost like we were meant to meet!! I loved Tony like a big brother and life just won't be the same without him. I pray for his family and many friends and hope we can all be at peace with his tragic passing. Sincerely, Kristen

My heart is full with so many memories of Tony. When I was a sophomore and he was a senior at SFHS, we spent every lunch hour together while I was a hall monitor outside the nurse's office.  We were just kids but we discussed philosophy and spirituality and dreamed about what our lives would be like once we finished school.  One winter night, during a huge blizzard, Tony and I spent several hours walking around St. Francis and Cudahy.  It seemed we were the only people out and it was so peaceful and quiet.  We barely spoke but trudged side by side in the snow soaking in the wonder of the weather. On my 18th birthday, I drank too much and Tony babysat me over night to make sure I was okay. He comforted me when DG and I broke up, although it couldn't have been easy for him to do that since DG was his big brother.  In our adult years, our friendship grew into one where I gave Tony advice about women, he encouraged me as a writer and we would have these marathon phone conversations talking about philosophy and spirituality...right where we began. Tony visited me in Nashville and stayed with my husband and I in our house on Lake Michigan. In many ways, I just took it for granted that Tony would always be my friend and always be around for us to grow old together. It is a loss to all of us who knew Tony.  My heart hurts yet I know that my life is much richer because he was in it.  Love from Nashville, Tamara

I am very sad to hear of Tony's passing. What a strange and tragic end to a truly beautiful, unique life. Tony lived on his own terms. You could not force his hand. He viewed the world at his own distance. I admired his detached vision. He rarely saw things the way I do yet he was tolerant  and sometimes even sympathetic to my thought process. As I remember him from years ago, the everyday world was a comedy to him. He could find great amusement in almost any daily mundane task or event. He once asked me how I could be so arrogantly critical of almost everything and I told him because I know I am right. I don't believe Tony thought in absolutes. He could see the folly in being stuck on one side or another. He could not be tied or held down to a position or a belief system. These things were complications too cumbersome, too limiting. I think he was very skeptical of a dichotomy of truths. But mostly, Tony just enjoyed his life. He would not let it be kicked into dank submission. He saw the small light and took the chances the suited him. Though I have not talked to him in over twenty years he still is a dear friend. I know he will be missed. I will think of him often this summer and the years to come.

Best wishes, and sincere condolences,

Rich Olin.

So sorry to hear of your loss.  You are in our thoughts and prayers.  May the Lord comfort you.  In Christ's Love, The Rudlong family

Dear Family of Tony,  

I participated in Great Books classes with Tony and greatly appreciated his contributions to the class.  Know that he brought a smile to many people you will never know.  I offer my sympathy for your loss.

Sincerely,

Marita Heller

I am so sorry to hear about Tony's accident and death. He was a great guy! I know that he is now a part of all of us throughout the Universe. His energies are all around us and his smile will always be remembered. His presence in this world impacted a lot of people in a very positive way!