John George Plesher 1930-2012

PLESHER CAMPAGNOLA ZARR

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/16/2012 at 13:05:33

Sioux City Journal
May 30, 2012

John George Plesher, 82, of Sioux City passed away Sunday, May 27, 2012, and joined his heavenly family with his wife and family at his side.

Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at the Church of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, with the Rev. Steven McLoud officiating. Burial will be in Monongahela Cemetery in Monongahela, Pa. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 5 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 6 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. Online condolences can be directed to meyerbroschapels.com.

Born on Jan. 27, 1930, in East Monongahela, Pa., he was the son of Charles and Catherine (Campagnola) Plesher. He attended school in East Monongahela and graduated from Monongahela High School in 1947. Mr. Plesher graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1951 with degrees in geography and geology. He later achieved a master's degree in education studies.

After joining the U.S. Air Force in 1951, Mr. Plesher went to Genoa, N.Y., for basic training and to San Antonio, Texas, for Russian language training. He served at the University of Syracuse as a Russian language interpreter. He was stationed variously in Tripoli, Libya, Rome, Athens, Ankara, and Samsun, in the Black Sea area of Turkey. Mr. Plesher served in the Korean War and was discharged as a buck sergeant in 1956.

He began work as a laborer at Combustion Engineering Co. Foundry in East Monongahela while attending graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh. He ended his career there as foundry manager, moving to Sioux City in 1975 as foundry manager for Sioux City Foundry Co. in South Sioux City. He retired in 1996 as vice president.

On June 22, 1957, he was united in marriage to Theresa Zarr at Sacred Heart Church in Pittsburgh. They were blessed with 55 years of marriage. They raised their five children, 10 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

John is survived by his wife, Theresa; sons, John E. and Robbin Plesher of Suwanee, Ga., David W. and Pamela Plesher of Ardmore, Okla., Peter C. and Joyce Plesher of Omaha, Daniel P. and Jan Plesher of Sioux City; daughter, Christine Plesher Connor of Cumming, Ga.; grandchildren, Jennifer Plesher Walsh and Caitlin Plesher of Suwanne, Ga., Kristin Blount of Ardmore, Okla., Michael Plesher of Omaha, Luke and Olivia Plesher of Sioux City, Ross Small of Le Mars, Iowa, John Morgan, Megan, and Matthew Connor of Cumming, Ga.; and great-grandchildren, Mason and Evan Small of Le Mars.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles; mother, Catherine; brothers, Charles III, Michael, and Louis; and great-grandchild, Jakob David Blount.

Pallbearers will be John’s sons, John, David, Peter, and Daniel Plesher and grandsons, Michael, John Morgan, Matthew Connor, and Ross Small.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Kidney Foundation or Hospice of Siouxland.