Thomas Edward Plinke

About Thomas

Thomas Edward Plinke, 90 of Bemidji, MN died Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at Gold Pine Home in Bemidji, MN.

Thomas Edward Plinke, June 1, 1931, one of three children born to Walter and Marie (Dyson) Plinke of Lancaster, Ohio. Tom was baptized in Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lancaster, on June 28, 1931 and confirmed in the same church on March 25, 1945. His memory verse was, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," (Psalm 23:1).

He attended schools in Lancaster, and graduated from high school in 1949. Tom was selected for the Wall of Honor for basketball in 2018. Tom was one of the top five basketball players in Ohio. He was awarded a basketball scholarship to Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, and graduated from there in May, 1953.

At Valpo, he met Joyce Wiedbush, and they were married on June 7, 1953 at St. John’s Church in Forest Park, IL. In September of 1953, Tom was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. He took his basic training at Camp Pickett in Blackstone, VA. He left for active duty overseas in June 1954. He was stationed in Nurnberg, Germany with the 3rd Armored Medical Company, attached to the 2nd Regimental Combat Team.

Joyce joined Tom in Nurnberg in December 1954. During his time in Germany, Tom played baseball, football, and basketball with the R.C.T. He was honorably discharged from Ft. Hamilton, N.Y. on September 7, 1955. He then attended Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL, obtaining his teaching license for Science and Physical education.

Tom taught and coached at Walther Lutheran High School in Melrose Park, IL, and West Leyden High School in Northlake, IL. His first son, Timothy Alan, was born in DeKalb, IL on December 8, 1955, son Todd Edward, born in 1960, daughter Julia Marie in 1962 and son Peter Martin in 1967.

The family moved to Walker, MN in 1969, where they owned and operated Fisher’s Houseboats with Martin and Selma Wiedbush.

They moved to Campbell, MN in 1979 where Tom taught the sciences and coached at Campbell-Tintah School. He retired from coaching in 1989, and from teaching in 1998. He continued driving the school bus for Campbell/Tintah until 2006. That year Tom and Joyce moved to Temple, TX and in 2010 to their current home in Bemidji, MN.

They were members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji, although Tom’s last years he was homebound.

Tom enjoyed sports, woodworking, gardening, and was an all around handyman. He was active in church activities and treasured friendships with fellow church members. He took great interest in his students and enjoyed talking with them before and after classes.

Above all, Tom loved spending time with his family and seeing and playing with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Marie Dyson Plinke on October 15, 1969, his father, George Walter Plinke on March 27, 1988, his brother Fritz Plinke on December 22, 2017, and his sister Ruth Harvey July 24, 2019.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Plinke of Bemidji, children, Timothy Alan Plinke of Bemidji, Todd Edward (Melisa) Plinke of North Tonawanda, NY, Julia Marie (Mark) Thomton of Bemidji, and Peter Martin (Linda) Plinke of Buffalo, NY, 5 grandchildren, Erin Plinke (Mitch) Valentine, Nathan Plinke, Andrew Plinke, Jenny Plinke, and Megan Fuxa, 7 great grandchildren, Kaya Lee Thunstrom, Augustus Orion Valentine, Magnolia Skye Valentine, Devin Plinke, Bryce Plinke, Mackenzie Plinke, and Christian Thomas Johnson.

memorial service

Memorial Services for Thomas

May 13, 2022

Cease Family Funeral Home 2807 Irvine Ave NW, Bemidji, MN 56601, USA

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home