YOUNGSTOWN - A Mass Of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish at St. Matthias Church, with Monsignor Peter Polando officiating for Michael "Mike" Plakosh, 88 who passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, November 9, 2014. Mike was born October 31, 1926, a son of a coal miner, George and Mary Chuberko Plakosh in Masontown, Pennsylvania. Mike's father came over to the United States from Eastern Europe to work in the coal mines and met his mother, who was a native Pennsylvanian. After finishing school, Mike joined the U.S. Navy during World War II and was deployed to the Pacific as part of the Construction Battalion. After serving over two years, seeing the world, and enduring many close calls in Okinawa, he returned home to his ailing mother, who died of Leukemia shortly thereafter. After the war, Mike moved to Youngstown in pursuit of work and found employment with General Fireproofing. He found more than just work in Youngstown – he met a woman, Florence, who he married in 1949. Mike and Florence shared a long, loving marriage and two children. After a 40-year career with GF, he retired and worked with his son, Joe, on his Little Debbie route. In addition to his work ethic, discipline, and incredibly consistent personality, Mike was the consummate family man. Words cannot describe the level of loyalty, dedication, love, and patience that he exhibited towards his family, with whom he loved spending time. His number one purpose in life was serving his family, and he would do anything to spend just one more minute with them. His good nature extended beyond his family, though. He would do anything for anyone. Mike was the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back and never complain about anything. He would overcome all obstacles in the way of helping someone out. His wisdom and selfless charisma touched many people, and he was more than a father to many outside of his direct offspring. He preached integrity, honor, and living your life the right way. He always said that he wasn't afraid of anything because he lived a clean life. No one could ever say anything bad about the man. His life was spent as an example of how we should live our own lives – do unto others as you would have them do unto you – and we all learned from him. Mike is survived by his two sons, Mike and Joe, his daughter-in-law, Michelle, his grandson, Michael, and his sister-in-law, Delores Plakosh. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Florence, his granddaughter, Marissa Plakosh, and his three brothers, George, Charles, and Paul. The Plakosh family has entrusted their loved one to the care of the Kubina-Yuhasz-Wasko Funeral Home where they will receive family and friends on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 4:45 p.m. prayer service being led by the Infant Jesus of Prague Guild at the funeral home.