John Plowe

CRYSTAL FALLS - John M. Plowe, of Elm Grove Lane in Crystal Falls, passed away on Sun day, Jan.10, 2010, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Plowe, a well known retired businessman in Crystal Falls, was born in Houghton, on April 16, 1929, and received his schooling in that community. He was a 1947 graduate of Houghton High School, and went on to attend Suomi College, Northern Michigan University, and also graduated from the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science. He married Carol Moberg of Marquette, in 1952. The couple celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary in September 2009. Plowe served in the U.S. Army for three years. He was a first lieutenant platoon leader with the 15th Infantry Regiment in Korea from 1952-53. He received two Bronze Stars during this time, plus the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, two Battle Stars, and the Combat Infantry Badge. In December 1957, John Plowe purchased the funeral home in Crystal Falls, which became known as the Plowe Funeral Home, and now is known as the Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home. Then in June 1960, he purchased the furniture store on Main Street and it has been known as Plowe Furniture for the past 50 years. He retired from both businesses on Jan. 1, 1990. John Plowe had a long and wide-ranging record of community involvement. He was a member of the American Legion Unit 87 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2891 for 50 years, the East Side Veterans Council, the board of directors of the First National Bank of Crystal Falls and a devoted parishioner of Guardian Angels Catholic Church. He served as the VFW chaplain for 50 years, the American Legion adjutant and also served as chaplain. He also said the prayers and presented the American Flag at all veterans funerals. He held the office of Camp Christine Veterans Park treasurer for 22 years, served as Memorial Day master of ceremonies for 50 years, was chairman and treasurer of the VFW Scholarship Fund, chairman of the VFW Wheelchair Fund, was the speaker for many Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies and was an honored speaker at the closing ceremony of the visiting Vietnam Wall. Plowe was also the chairman of fund drives for the Veterans War Memorial in Evergreen Cemetery and the fund to secure a building for senior citizens, as well as for the American Legion's Camp Christine deck and roof projects at Lake Mary. He also chaired the Edward Jacobs Veterans summer uniform drive for the Forest Park High School Band. He was past president of the Rotary Club, the Crystal Manor Board, the chamber of commerce and vice president of the Community Hospital Board of Directors. John Plowe was the 1975 Lions Club Citizen of the Year and was the Iron County Business Man of the Year in 1982. He marched down Superior Avenue in Crystal Falls many, many years in many, many Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Bass Festival and V-J Day Parades. In 1999, Plowe was named the Grand Marshall of the V-J Day Celebration Parade and rode in a deserved place of honor down Main Street. In the summer of 2009, John was the Honoree of the Day for the Alpha 4th of July Celebration to recognize his 50 years of service to the veterans organization. John is survived by his wife, Carol; two sons, Steve (Terrie) Plowe, owners of Plowe Furniture and Crystal Home Interiors in Crystal Falls, and Greg (Steve) Plowe, Global Marketing director for SABMiller in London; two daughters, Kathy (Kevin) Mussatto of Milwaukee, who is a nurse scientist in the pediatric heart program at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, and Kris (Mike) Friedel of Mequon, Wis., a business analyst with Manpower's International Headquarters in Milwaukee; two brothers, Mort (Catherine) Plowe of Houghton, and Ronald (Robyn) Plowe of Florida; one sister, Mary Joan McCreight of Rialto, Calif.; six grandchildren, Katie (Nathan) Clark, Brendon Plowe, Natalie Mussatto, Dominic Mussatto, Brooklynn Friedel, and Lukas Friedel; and two great-grandchildren, Taylor and Tatum Clark. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Nash Funeral Home in Crystal Falls. Parish prayers will be recited at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. The Eastside Veterans, the VFW, and American Legion of Crystal Falls will Pass in Review at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday at Guardian Angels Catholic Church. Funeral services will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at Guardian Angels Church. Fr. Jeffrey Kurtz will offer the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Alton Beck, John Brozak, Walt Hagglund, Ron May, Dave Orchard, and Frank Siewiorek. Full military honors will be accorded by all veterans attending at the Evergreen Cemetery in Crystal Falls. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in John Plowe's name to the Iron County Cancer Unit or St. Vincent de Paul Society of Crystal Falls. Condolenses may be expressed to the family of John M. Plowe online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The Nash Funeral Home of Crystal Falls is serving the family.

John Plowe

January 10, 2010