Velma Wing

Mrs. Velma R. (Plavan) Wing, 96, of Kansas City, KS, passed away Friday, December 19, 2025, at NorthCare Hospice House in KCMO.

Velma was born May 7, 1929, in Kansas City, KS to Croatian immigrants John (Sr.) & Rose Plavan, she was the oldest of three siblings. She was a lifelong resident of Kansas City, KS while growing up on Strawberry Hill, she attended St. John the Baptist grade school and graduated from Wyandotte High School. She worked as a receptionist for Prudential Insurance and Wyandotte County Juvenile Court, retiring from both places of employment.

Velma loved her family, friends, and her Catholic faith. Though she was unable to attend Mass in her later years she would wake up at the crack of dawn on Sunday mornings to watch Mass on TV. She enjoyed watching college basketball in particular KU or any game that was close that kept her on the edge of her seat. She loved talking to her nephews and nieces on the phone and keeping all of us informed of what everyone was up to. We will miss the phone calls on our birthdays with her singing happy birthday to whomever birthday it was.

She is proceeded in death by her late husband Robert Wing Sr., parents, John (Sr.) & Rose Plavan, brother John Plavan Jr., sisters & brothers-in-laws Rosemarie (Leo) Ratkey, and Irene (Matthew) Macek.

She is survived by her nephews Gary (Lynn) Ratkey of Indianapolis, IN; Randy Ratkey (Kristine Edman) of Cincinnati, OH; Ron (Cindy) Ratkey of Lenexa, KS; and Steven (Claudia) Macek of Smithville, MO, her great nephew Kyle (Mary) Ratkey of Indianapolis, IN, great nieces Megan Ratkey & Grace Ratkey of Boston, MA, Claire Ratkey of Cincinnati, OH, Lauren (Michael) Barta of Lenexa, KS, Jackie (Joseph) Mahoney of Lenexa, KS, and Danica & Katie Macek of Smithville, MO.

The family likes to say thank you to Gail Mason, Stevie Green, and Tina Paduch for helping her to continue to live in her own house, we greatly appreciate everything you did. The ICU staff at KU hospital unit 65 and NorthCare Hospice House, the family is grateful & thankful that you were the ones that took care of her at the end. There needs to be more people like you in this world that love what you do for others in their time of need, you have made everything easier on her family and her.

Donations can be made to: NorthCare Hospice House; 2800 Clay Edwards DR, 2nd Floor; North Kansas City, MO 64116.