Robert Pleggenkuhle

Robert William Pleggenkuhle, 96, of Sumner, died Friday, February 12, at the Hillcrest Home, Sumner.

Public visitation and services were held starting at noon on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church with the service beginning at 1:30 p.m. The service was live-streamed at 1:30 on the Hugeback Johnson Facebook page.

Burial was in St. Peter's Lutheran Church Cemetery - Richfield, rural Sumner.

Memorials may be directed to the Richfield Cemetery Association. Condolences can be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com.

Robert William Pleggenkuhle was born on September 13, 1924, to William and Emma (Stephan) Pleggenkuhle on the Dividing Ridge Farm, located on the Fayette and Chickasaw county line on Highway 18. He was the youngest of four boys and also had two sisters.

He played baseball and basketball at Alpha High School, where he was a member of the Class of 1942, and he loved telling people that he missed the last day of his senior year due to having the mumps. Early in life, he learned that “early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise” and he dispensed those words of his advice for the rest of his life.

Robert (Bob) knew his way around the dance floor, and it was at the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo where he met the love of his life, Dolores Elaine Morkel, and it was the best dance of his life. The couple began dating, fell in love, and was married on May 16, 1953, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Richfield. Their family grew to include Loris, Steven, June, Nancy and Lisa.

His children will always remember their dad who loved his farm and lovingly tended to his land and his cattle. If you asked Bob what he did for fun, his answer came quickly, “Farm.” The Pleggenkuhles lived on their Century Farm until they built a new home just north of the homestead in February 1997.

Bob loved his church, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Richfield — which was founded by his grandfather, Fred Pleggenkule, in 1879. He served many years on the Parish Education Board, Sunday School Superintendent, and Cemetery Board. He also served on the Palmer Memorial Hospital Board from 1980 to 1986.

In retirement, he loved playing card games like 500 and Euchre, and he enjoyed playing Sequence with friends who stopped by, and there was almost always an impromptu meal after the game. Bob was a whiz with the TV remote control, and his channel surfing skills were legendary. He loved game shows like “The Price is Right” and “Wheel of Fortune,” and he enjoyed watching sports on television, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs. There was no one happier than Bob in 2016 when the Cubs became World Series champions for the first time in his lifetime.

When he moved to Hillcrest Home, he always enjoyed playing Bingo and getting all the little treats. He was one of the most popular residents at the home, where he always had a smile for the staff members and appreciated their care and support.

Bob loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and he packed a lot of life in his 96 years here on Earth. As much as he will be missed, the people who loved him know that he is on the dance floor in Heaven with his beloved Dolores.

Left to cherish his memory is his sister, Anna Mae Schlatter, West Union; daughters, Loris (Gerry) Fox, Medford, WI; Nancy Pleggenkuhle, St. Louis Park, MN; and Lisa (Scott) Grummer, Forest City, IA; one son, Steve (Cindy Durscher) of Sumner; five grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dolores in 2015; a daughter, June; sister, Orpha Gray; brothers, Ralph, Ross, and Roy; brothers in law, Raymond Gray and Alfred Schlatter; sisters in law, Hilda Oelrich, Esther Pleggenkuhle, Ruth Pleggenkuhle, and Eleanor Morkel.