Jerry Don Plett of Lincolnville died Monday at St. Luke Hospital in Marion on his 84th birthday. He was born April 27, 1936, to Dan and Rosella Plett of Lehigh. Jerry graduated from Lehigh Rural High School in 1954 and was led by his church traditions to be a conscientious objector regarding active military service. He served his country at the Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver from 1956 to 1957 as a subject of an experiment in dehydrated foods for service members in the field of battle.
After his discharge, he began a 64-year farming career around Lehigh and farmed at Lincolnville after 1964. Despite encountering health problems in September 2018 and undergoing hip replacement a year ago, he continued a Hereford cattle operation until his death. His wife, Rowena Lavonne Seibel, was a student at Tabor College when they met. They were married on June 11, 1966, at Garden Park Mennonite Brethren Church in Denver. They raised six children: Candace Krebs of Enid, OK, Dawn (Donnie) Hett of Marion, Angie (Matt) Ehlers of Superior, NE, Pam (Richard) Idleman of Herington, Jason (Amy) Plett of Lincolnville, and Josh (Renae) Plett of Hillsboro. He has 14 grandchildren: Sydney Idleman, Cole Ehlers, Morgan (Ehlers) Rugg, Lane Ehlers, Quinton Hett, Laura (Idleman) Hett, Jeremy Hett, Mekenzie Ehlers, Alli Hett, Jenaya Plett, Brogan Plett, Brady Idleman, Luke Idleman, and Landry Plett; five great-grandchildren: Camille, Sawyer, and Henry Rugg, Scarlett and Amory Jones-Idleman, and four on the way.
Jerry's greatest desire was that his children and grandchildren would have fulfilling marriage relationships. He taught them to appreciate the truly important things, and they held him in high esteem. In the eyes of his family, Jerry had a unique personality. He was a serious person who sought out wisdom and understanding and unpretentiously shared what he learned with family and in everyday contact with people. He lived conscientiously and set a high standard for himself in discipline, hard work, and honestly in dealings with others. His greatest regret was not living to see the fulfillment of the promise of a new world filled with truth and justice.
Jerry has three siblings Bob (Eileen) Plett of Reedley, CA, Joan Duerksen of Newton, and Carol (Bob Wright) Jantz of Highlands Park, CO. He is preceded in death by a brother in law Willis Duerksen.
Friends are invited to pay their respects to Jerry on Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Yazel-Megli Funeral Home, Marion. Graveside services will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Springfield Cemetery, south of Leigh on K-15. Memorial contributions in Jerry's name may be directed to the St. Luke's Hospital Foundation in care of the funeral home.