John Richard PLUNKETT

PLUNKETT, KAUTZKY, SHIPMAN, SHAUGHNESSY, LESHER, BIRDSLEY, CARSON, NELSON, CATES, BAMSEY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:47

John Richard Plunkett
May 13, 1925 — March 18, 2000

John Richard Plunkett was born on May 13, 1925, in Eagle Grove, Iowa, to John H. and Pauline Kautzky Plunkett. He grew up in Eagle Grove and attended Sacred Heart School through the eighth grade then Eagle Grove High School. He later attended Loras College and graduated from Iowa State University with a B. S. Degree in Mechanical, Engineering and worked for Proctor and Gamble in Kansas City, Kansas. On June 9, 1949, he married Lauris R. Shipman. He served his country during World War II in the Air Force and was recalled to the Air Force during the Korean War. He was also stationed at Randolph Air Force Base. When released from Air Force duty, the family returned to Eagle Grove to take up farming. He served as 4-H Boys Club leader for fourteen years, was School Director, and was on the School Board when Eagle Grove Schools were consolidated. He was very active in his church, serving as Parish President three separate times, also was lector, Eucharistic Minister, sang in the choir and was a church trustee. He joined the Knights of Columbus in Eagle Grove, Council 1579, in 1954, and served as Grand Knight and later was Past Faithful Navigator of Clement Smythe Assembly in Fort Dodge. After serving on the state level offices, in 1972, he was elected as State Deputy and served again in 1973. He was elected as Supreme Warden in 1978 and then to Board of Directors of the Supreme Council in 1980, where he served until, he had to resign in 1987 due to ill health.

John R. Plunkett died Saturday, March 18, 2000, at his home in Eagle Grove, at the age of 74.

He is survived by his wife, Lauris; one son, David, and wife, Jan, of Spirit Lake, Iowa; three daughters, Kerry Ann Shaughnessy, and husband, Jim, Tacoma, Wash., Regina Lesher and husband, Gary, Eagle Grove, and Ann Birdsley, and husband, Jeff, Des Moines, Iowa; four grandsons; two granddaughters; five step-grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren; two sisters, Dorothy Carson, Edmond, Okla., and Mildred Nelson, and husband, Doug, Goldfield, Iowa; 25 nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Marian and Floyd Cates, and Margaret and Ralph Bamsey; and one brother-in-law, Howard Carson.

Funeral, services will be held Wednesday March 22, 2000, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eagle Grove, with Reverend David Beckman officiating. Burial will be held in the Calvary Cemetery; Eagle Grove. A Knights of Columbus service was held Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at the Willim Funeral Home in Eagle Grove. Willim Funeral Home in Eagle Grove is in charge of arrangements

The Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Wednesday, March 22, 2000

source --- Eileen Reed