William “Bill” J Platt, 71, of Mitchell, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. A private family Memorial Service will be held. A Celebration of Life for friends and family will be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. at The Scenic Knolls Golf Course in Mitchell. It is respectfully requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials in Bill’s honor be made either in care of his family or to the Panhandle Humane Society. Online Condolences may be made by viewing Bill’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com.
The man, the myth, the legend, William J Platt, a.k.a. “Bill” escaped this mortal realm on March 12, 2024 at the ripe age of 71. We think he did it on purpose to avoid the inevitable utter disappointment of the upcoming presidential election, although we know he would have enjoyed pushing people’s buttons on Facebook, like he did so well.
Bill was born on July 27, 1952, in Chadron, Nebraska, to Albert and Elnora Platt. He graduated in 1970 from Chadron High School and then attended Chadron State College for 3 years. In 1972, he hired out on the C&NW Railroad. After working in Boone, Iowa for a short period of time, he returned to Chadron where he met his bride-to-be. In 1976, he married the love of his life, “Christy Baby,” and then in the years to come they welcomed their three glorious children, Riley, Tasha, and Lauren. He served on the Chadron City Council from 1984 to 1991 as a Councilman and later as Vice Mayor. In 1991, he and his family settled in Mitchell, Nebraska, where he continued to work for C&NW Railroad and eventually Union Pacific Railroad.
Bill was a 3rd generation railroader, a badge he wore with pride. He was a conductor and mentor to many. He served as a Legislative Representative for the United Transportation Union from 1988 to 2014. He was also Vice Local Chairman for Local 257 for several years. He served his time with the railroad for 42 years before escaping into retirement only to become a full-time daycare provider for his grandchildren.
He spent his retirement listening to good music, reading voraciously, gardening and enjoying his acre of land, enjoying a smoke in the garage, posting on Facebook, doing what the family would only describe as “Bill things,” but mostly enjoying time with his grandchildren. He loved to read and learn, particularly anything to do with history and political science. He challenged others (often on Facebook) to think about things from another point of view and not just accept the world as they have been told to.
To those who knew him, he was a warm presence, always ready with a smile and joke. Along the way in life, he made many a friend, had many adventures and misadventures, but mostly he was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather.
Bill leaves behind his loving and patient wife of 47 years Christy Platt; his three children, Riley Platt (Amber) of Gering, Tasha Haggar (Samir) of Scottsdale, and Lauren Haag (Mark) of Scottsbluff; and his grandchildren whom he adored, Tatum and Quinn Platt, Georgiana Haggar, and Colton and Carter Haag. He also is survived by his sister Cindy Nayman, niece Angie Courtney, nephews Chad Lauder and Justin Nayman, sister-in-law Denise Skinner, brother and sister-in-law Larry and Lois Yoakum, and sister-in-law Shelece Yoakum.
He was preceded in death by his parents William Albert and Elnora Platt, his brother Terry Platt, his brother Richard Platt, his grandfather William Robert Platt, and niece Danielle Nayman.