MOHAWK - Hercules J. "Herk" Platts, Sr., age 85, of Catherine St., Mohawk, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 28, 2014, at home, with his loving family by his side. He was born on September 19, 1928, in Frankfort, the son of Hercules F. and Katherin (Farley) Platts, and attended Mohawk School, Annunciation School and Ilion High School. On April 10, 1950, he was married to Helen Jean Rahn at Annunciation Church, Ilion. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the US Army in the 928th Engineering Group from 1948 to 1952. Hercules then worked as a surveyor on the NYS Thruway. In 1957, he was employed by the US Army Corp of Engineers and the US Naval Facilities Command as a construction inspector at Griffiss Air Force Base and all Naval and Marine Training Centers in Central and Western NY State until his retirement in 1979. Herk was also a certified engineer technician of the American Society of Engineers. While employed with the Federal Government, Herk worked on several construction jobs as a surveyor and as a street superintendent for the Village of Ilion in 1966. From 1962 to 1970, he also owned and operated Straight Eight Sales (autos) in Mohawk. He attended Blessed Sacrament Church in Mohawk. Herk was a member and past Commander of the Mohawk American Legion Crowley-Barnum Post #25, past county Commander and a member of the Dads of Foreign Service Veterans Post 244. He was also a past President of the Herkimer County Conservation Alliance and a member of Mohawk, Ilion and E. Herkimer Fish and Game Clubs. Survivors include his wife, Helen Jean; his six children, Daniel Platts and his wife, Janet, of Ilion, Loralee Alexander and her husband, Ted, of Chippewa Township, PA, Hercules Platts, Jr. and his wife, Diana, of Chippewa Township, PA, Michael Platts and his wife, Linda, of Ilion, Terri Homa and her fiance, Lance Sterling, of Mohawk, and Paul Platts and his wife, Patti, of Mohawk; sixteen grandchildren, Joy (Platts) Barrett, Danny, Todd and Jill Platts, Kerry (Alexander) Kretz, Hercules, III, Josh and Kiel Platts, Nicole Platts, Brandon Thompson, Brittany and Chance Homa and Luke Sterling, Allyssa, Karlee and Taylor Platts; eight great-grandchildren, Lilly and Simon Hercules Platts, Jocelyn, Madelyn and Harrison Platts, Logan Kretz, Lexi Platts and Elena Barrett; special niece, Katherine Dublinsky and fiance, Richard Naegle, of Bristol, TN; several other nieces, nephews and cousins; his sister-in-law, Una Hahn, of Whitesboro; and his brother-in-law, Leslie Rahn, of North Utica. He was predeceased by two brothers, Charles and John "Jack" Platts; and three sisters, Fredetta Williams, Dorma Zupkas and Mary Harter. Funeral services will be held 12 noon, Thursday, July 3, 2014, at the Blessed Sacrament Church, E. Main St., Mohawk, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Very Reverend Mark Cunningham, with Sister Mary Jo Tallman, Parish Life Director. Interment will be in Mohawk Cemetery with full military honors. Calling hours will be Wednesday, July 2, 2014, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home's newly reopened location at 102 West St., Ilion. Members of the Mohawk American Legion Crowley-Barnum Post #25 will conduct their service 6:45 p.m., Wednesday, July 2, 2014, at the funeral home. The Platts family wishes to extend their gratitude to Hospice and Palliative Care for their excellent care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc., 135 Parkinson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305-1425, or 1-800-223-2732. Envelopes will also be available at the funeral home. Anyone wishing to share a memory of Hercules "Herk", or add to his online memorial, may go to: www.applegateandday.com The Platts family has entrusted Herk's service arrangements and supervision to their family Funeral Director and friend Don Applegate and Funeral Director Martin Ciaccia