Eugene [Plum] Plumley
Gene was born in 1936, the youngest of his family. He had 1 brother, Don and 2 sisters, Pat and Katie. He started working at the age of 14. Married Darlene Maiden, had 8 children. Darlene and son Gary died in a fire at their home in 1967. He married and divorced Marilyn Haggerty in 1969, had 1 daughter, Nova. In 1978 we met, were married in 1979 and combined 2 families giving us 10 children.He loved them all. He worked 30 years at John Deere, retiring in 1989. We loved camping, traveling and our grandchildren. Gene was also a wonderful woodworker. We were all the recipients of his wonderful work.
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A great brother-in-law who always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. We still have his gifts of wood and will always remember his positive attitude even in the face of the pain that he was feeling. We miss him greatly, but we are glad he is celebrating wth those who have gone before him!
It's hard to read any of this without lots of tears. He filled a hole in my life when I really needed a dad and that never changed. And then years later, he welcomed my daughter as his own granddaughter, never hesitating to love her with all a Grandpa could. He loved us and cared for us until the very end. That's the sign of a truly great man.
for as long as i have known and been friends of this family, plum was always good to me. matter a fact no one from the family has done me wrong, i am honored to have been his friend along with lonnie, and steve. they will all be missed, but im sure the 3 of them together are raising some hell...lol
I only had the chance to meet Plum once. It was on my first trip to Iowa with his grandson, and my now husband, Matt. We brought my two year old Elizabeth with us. We went over so that I could meet him and Sandy, Matt and I were just friends at the time and we went with him on his military leave. Plum got Elizabeth's attention with chalk and candy. Ever since, Elizabeth called him "the candy man". None of us knew that this would be our last time to see him. Just three days after Matt and I were married, I received a phone call from his brother, David, telling me of his passing. Matt was at work, but I couldn't bring myself to tell him. He would pass not only three days after our marriage, but also on the day of my sister Sarah's birthday.
We left Elizabeth here in Texas with my mom, packed a bag and drove the 1200 miles to Dubuque. It was a very long and very quite ride. Elizabeth called and asked why she couldn't come with us. So I explained to her that Grandpa Plum had passed and that she was too young to go to the funeral. (This would've been her first funeral if she came).
This was the worst way possible to meet half of the family, but I was welcomed with open arms. Just before he passed, we found out we were pregnant. A lot of the family members were very excited. It was a way to bring light to a tragic event.
The next time we would go visit, I remember a conversation between Sandy and Elizabeth. Elizabeth, who had only witnessed the death of a pet, explained to Sandy that Grandpa Plum, or "The Candy Man", would be okay. That he was up in heaven with her pet dog. She said she knew he was and that, no, there isn't a separate heaven for humans and dogs. Elizabeth is almost seven now, and she still remembers the visit where she met Grandpa Plum, and how he shared a piece of candy from his candy jar. :)
We miss and love you Plum!
~The Janzig
Matt, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Liam, and Skylar
I miss uncle gene. I always called him old man. He always joking around. I think of gene often. He was one of a kind. I miss and the you uncle gene.
Miss him everyday!! Had so many great times!! Truly a great man who was loved by so many!!!!
A loving Father, Husband,Grandfather and Great Grandfather. I don't know any one who didn't like him!
He is loved and missed by many, especially me!