Everett Gene Plunk

Everett Gene Plunk, 83, of Cape Girardeau was called to his eternal rest Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, with his wife by his side and his loving family throughout the week.

Everett was born Sept. 19, 1935, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, son of the late Nova Cecil and Charlotte Rose Fields Plunk. He married the love of his life, Rosalee Mamie Smith, on Dec. 25, 1959, in Cape Girardeau.

Everett graduated in 1953 from Poplar Bluff High School and later that year joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served until he was honorably discharged in 1956.

Education was something Everett held to a high importance. He earned his Bachelor of Science in education and a School Counselor’s Certification from Southeast Missouri State University, and later his master’s degree in mathematics from Southern Illinois University. Everett taught at Morehouse High School and De Soto High School, and worked for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in Washington, D.C. However, he spent the majority of his teaching career at Cape Girardeau Central Junior and Senior High Schools teaching mathematics and serving on numerous committees during his tenure. He retired from Cape Girardeau public schools in 1995.

Everett also worked in real estate for Hazel Ford at Town & Country Realty. This relationship led to the formation of PK Construction in partnership with Paul Kitchen. In 1980, he purchased Star-Vue Mobile Home Park and operated it until 2000. He took great pride in keeping it well kept and spent a lot of time doing the work himself. He had a big heart and was always ready to help tenants who ran into financial difficulty.

Until his health failed, he regularly attended services at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau.
Everett was an avid Cardinals fan and could always be found watching their games on TV. In his leisure time, Everett enjoyed playing golf and poker with the “Math Club.” He especially loved traveling and spending time with family.

Everett is survived by his loving wife, Rosalee of 59 years; a son, Michael (Nancy) Plunk of Lake Saint Louis, Missouri; two daughters, Marla (Maury) Taylor of Cape Girardeau and Kimberly (Brad) Schiwitz of Frisco, Texas; a brother, Gary (Linnie) Plunk of Arnold, Missouri; and a sister-in-law, Sue Plunk of Sanford, Florida.

Also surviving are five grandchildren, Christina (Lee) Dodd of Benton, Missouri, Jennifer (Rick) Joplin of Gordonville, Nicholas and Abigail Schiwitz of Frisco and Kaitlyn Plunk of Lake Saint Louis; as well as three great-grandchildren, Haley and Hayden Dodd and Julie Joplin.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a stepfather, Marvin Page; a brother, Ted Plunk; and a stepbrother, Jim Page.

Friends may call from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Douglas Breite officiating. Interment will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau, with full military honors.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Trinity Lutheran Church or the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

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