Obituary of Kenneth R Plawman

Kenneth Robert Plawman, age 92, passed away on August 22nd at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Merrill under the care and comfort of Aspirus Hospice.

He was born in Wisconsin Rapids on November 27, 1925 to William and Emma (Wodtke) Plawman. The youngest of fourteen children, he grew up in Wisconsin Rapids and left high school before graduating to fight in World War II enlisting in the Navy and was stationed in the Honduras at a submarine refueling station. He returned from service to marry Beverly Alloway in 1947. He worked at Consolidated Papers and then embarked on an adventure to Anchorage, Alaska where he became a firefighter from 1952 to 1954. Returning to Wisconsin Rapids he was employed by the City as a heavy equipment operator for 23 years and tended bar at Ebbe’s Lake Aire on Saturday nights for many years.

  In 1977 they embarked on another adventure purchasing a tavern in Merrill naming it Plawman’s Playhouse. He and Beverly ran the business together successfully until she passed away in 1986. He sold the business to his nephew in 1989 and retired to live on Pier Lake in Oneida County for 23 years with his partner Jane McCarthy, where he spent his time fishing, making firewood, making maple syrup and snowmobiling and ATVing.  At age 70, he went back to work as a security guard at Lake of the Torches Casino, finally retiring again at age 81. After Wisconsin enabled Wisconsin Statutes section 120.13 (37), in 2004 at the age of 79 he received his high school diploma from Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids with his children and grandchildren in attendance.

 In 2012 he moved back to Merrill where he lived until the time of his death. He was a member of the Lion’s Club obtaining an award for 20 years of perfect meeting attendance.  He was a member of the Merrill Business Association; he served as a Merrill Alderman and was a Lifetime Member of North American Fishing Club.

He is survived by his daughters Susan Coerper of Greenleaf, WI, Claudia (Guy) Caves of Highlands Ranch, CO, one son Jeffrey (Deb) Plawman of Merrill as well as 13 grandchildren, 16 great- grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his wife Beverly, his son Herbert Plawman, his grandson Shayne Plawman, his parents and all of his siblings.

Services will be held at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids on Thursday, August 30th at 11 AM with visitation at 10 AM until time of service and burial in Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Artisan Assisted Living and Pinecrest Nursing Home for their compassionate care as well as Aspirus Hospice and Palliative care.