Rev. David Carl Plake Jr.

The Reverend David Carl Plake, Jr., of Nixa, Missouri, passed peacefully into the presence of Christ on November 5, 2025, aged 85. David was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to the Reverend David Carl Plake, Sr. and Dorothy C. Plake. At the time of his death, David was receiving care at The Neighborhoods at Quail Creek in Springfield, Missouri.
David graduated from Greenville (Illinois) High School in 1958 and from Illinois State University in 1962. While he began his career as a high school teacher and later as an insurance agent, he was always deeply involved in the Assemblies of God church.
In 1979, he became Director of Men's Ministries and Christian Education for the Illinois District of the Assemblies of God, a position he held for 25 years. In his role, he ministered to thousands of children and adults and raised significant funding for gospel literature and missionary needs. In 2004, David began serving One Hope, where he concluded his active ministry by helping to provide gospel literature to children and leaders around the world.
In 2010, David and his wife Roberta Sue (Farquhar) relocated from Illinois to Nixa, Missouri, where they became involved on the hosting team at James River Church in Ozark. When not traveling for ministry, he was always interested in welcoming guests to the church and leading a Life Group. In recent years, failing health limited David's ability to be involved at JRC, but he still attended whenever he was able.
David is survived by his wife, Roberta. They were married for 63 years and raised two sons. Their firstborn son, David Carl Plake, III and his wife, Regenia (Ward) live in Sherman, Illinois and have four children: David Carl (D. C.) Plake, IV (Hannah), Macenzie Lyn Plake, Carissa (Trevor) Shue, and John Lloyd (J. L.) Plake. Their younger son, John Farquhar Plake and his wife, Tabitha (Nissley) live in Wilmington, Delaware. They have two daughters: Hannah J. Plake and Bethany G. Plake. David and Roberta also have one great granddaughter, Norah Grace Plake, daughter of D.C. and Hannah.
David is also survived by his brother-in-law, Robert O. Farquhar. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Dorothy R. Plake; and his half-sister, Mabel Buss.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2025 in Clark Chapel at James River Church, 6100 N 19th Street, Ozark, MO 65721. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., and the funeral service will begin at 11:00. A graveside service and interment will follow at 2:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon, November 14, 2025 at Prairie Lawn Cemetery, located 3.4 miles south of Carlinville, IL, on State Route 4.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial gifts to American Bible Society or One Hope.