Ploetz, Eugene P.

Other Events:

• Organizations: KAHS
• 1940 Census: 1940, Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• Education - High School: 1949, Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• News Mention: 19 Aug 2008; Appleton Post Crescent
• Obituary: 12 Sep 2015; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Organizations:
Historian for the City of Kaukauna

1940 Census:
Carl Ploetz 35
Alice Ploetz 32
Gene Ploetz 8
Joan Ploetz 4

Education - High School:
Kaukauna High School Class of 1949

News Mention:
APD Dated 8/19/2008;
Uncovered Kaukauna photos need captions
Historical society seeks information through Web site
KAUKAUNA - In his youth, Gene Ploetz heard plenty about his parents' day-to-day lives in this community.
He filed many of those stories in his memory bank. Interest in the community's olden times followed him as he went into teaching history at Kaukauna High School where, over his tenure of 35 years, he asked scores of students to indulge him with their families' memories.
Ploetz, 76, retired from the classroom in the 1990s, but more than two decades later, his work to document Kaukauna's historical trajectory from the early 1800s to the present is unending.
Ploetz and the Kaukauna Area Historical Society, of which he is a founding member, have more than 2,000 old photos. Half have yet to be identified.
The photos run the gamut: There's the photo of several couples and children sitting on porch steps. Another one, dating from 1923, shows a uniformed baseball team from Kaukauna. Members want to know who the players were.
"I'd give a nickel for every person who's told me, 'You've got to help us nail this down, Gene. You can't go without doing it first,'" he said.
Craig Lahm inherited the photo collection when he became the Kaukauna Public Library's director in 1973. Over the years, the pile grew larger.
"We probably should have done this 30 years ago, maybe 50 years ago," says Lahm, who in his retirement started to organize the photos in a way the public could see them online.
Under his direction, the group set up a blog. Viewers with information can leave comments.
Maggie Waggoner, the library's director, says it makes sense that Kaukauna would mount a large project to piece together a part of the state's history.
"Kaukauna is one of the oldest communities," she said.
Missionaries and French fur traders settled the area in the 1600s. It was on the main line of the Chicago and North Western Railway in the 1860s.
As historical society members have learned, not all the photos are of Kaukauna. Some are of people from, and places in, Neenah, Little Chute and the Town of Kaukauna.
Waggoner recently received an e-mail from a woman in New York, who had believed one of her relatives grew up in Ohio. She found his photo in the Kaukauna Web site.
"That's the kind of stuff we get all the time," Waggoner said.
J.E. Espino: 920-993-1000, ext. 426, or jespino@postcrescent.com

Obituary:
Gene P. Ploetz, Kaukauna, age 84, died Thursday September 10, 2015 at Appleton Medical Center. He was born in Appleton on August 15, 1931 to the late Carl and Alice (Pahl) Ploetz. Gene married Margery "Micki" Malkson in Kaukauna at Trinity Lutheran Church on June 11, 1960. She preceded him in death on July 30, 2006.
Gene spent his life as an educator. He taught for two years in Lake Zurich, IL before returning to Kaukauna in 1958. There, he spent most of his career with junior high school/middle school students. Gene was named State of Wisconsin District Teacher of the Year for Junior High School in 1976 and retired from Electa Quinney Middle School in 1992. Gene loved history and served as the Historian for the City of Kaukauna.
Gene had many hobbies, including model railroading and cheering for the Packers and Badgers. He could often be found at Village Limits, dining with friends and family, and maybe enjoying a martini as well. Gene was an avid golfer and enjoyed sharing his passion with others, founding the golf program at Kaukauna High School and coaching it for five years.
Gene is survived by his siblings: Carla Kobs and Pahl (Ann) Ploetz, both of Kaukauna; sister-in-law: Connie (Jim) Beck; and nieces and nephews: Robyn (Richard) Trilling, Jim Rausch, Jennifer (Ryan) Arnold, Jason (Jamie) Kobs, Justin (Rachel) Kobs, Pahla (Joe Schoenfelt), Kelly (Nate) Vils and Payton (fiancée Keira) Ploetz. He is further survived by great nieces and nephews, his beloved cat Oliver and many friends.
In addition to his parents and wife Micki, Gene was preceded in death by his sister, Joan (Jim) Rausch; brother-in-law, Bruce Kobs; and nephew, Randy Rausch.
Visitation will be held Sunday September 13, 2015 (TODAY) at BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH (124 W. 10th St. Kaukauna) beginning at 1:00 p.m. until time of Funeral at 6:00 p.m. The Rev. Levi Willms will officiate with Rev. Walter Steinbach assisting. Committal Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. To sign the guest book, please visit oconnellfh.com. A memorial is being established.
Gene's family would like to thank the 5th floor nursing staff at Appleton Medical Center and the Theda Care at Home Hospice staff for the kind care he received. Also, thank you to Patti for taking care of things at home for Gene all these years.

Eugene married Malkson, Margery "Micki" 11 Jun 1960, Kaukauna, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA. Margery was born 24 Mar 1934; died 30 Jul 2006. [Group Sheet]