Gary E. Pleva

He was born Nov. 13, 1964 in Dunkirk, the son of the late Edwin “Butch” and Dorothy (Mleczko) Pleva.

A lifelong area resident, Gary was a graduate of Dunkirk High School, Class of 1983. He had been employed by the Gowanda Correctional Facility as a correction officer, retiring in 2011.

Gary was a member of the Southtowns Walleye Association, Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, Sheridan VFW (board member and conductor), and Daniel F. Anson Hose Company No. 3, where as a young man he was a volunteer firefighter. He was also a member of the Forestville Parent Connection, along with his wife when his children were young.

An avid outdoorsman, Gary enjoyed deer and duck hunting, fishing and trapping. He was a family man who loved his children immensely and was very proud of them. His closest friends meant a lot to him and they refer to him as a “social butterfly”. He really loved fishing with his buddies.

Survivors include his wife, Christine (Chalmers) Pleva, whom he married May 5, 1990; two daughters, Kayla Lynn Pleva and Sarah Rose Pleva, both of Fredonia; one son, Adam Alexander Pleva of Buffalo; one sister, Sharon (late Brian) Kornacki of Newburgh, IN; sister-in-law, Debbie Chalmers of Sheridan; brother-in-law, Lee Chalmers of Mesa, AZ; and one niece and three nephews.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Linda Coonradt.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date. Arrangements are by the McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home.