Eugene Wayne Plegge, DVM

Eugene Wayne Plegge, DVM, was born on November 20, 1934, in Saint Louis, Missouri to Milton Herman and Marie Estelle McClain Plegge. Gene, known to those in Osage County as “Doc” passed away on Friday, September 13, 2024, at the family’s home in Linn. 

Gene attended elementary school in St. Louis. His family moved to Cooper Hill where he attended one year of high school in Belle before redistricting mandated, he finished school in Owensville. After graduation, he enrolled at the University of Missouri- Columbia where he graduated with his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1958. 

Following his studies, he entered into active service with the United States Air Force and was stationed in France. After his first year of service, he briefly returned home to wed Evelyn Pohlmann of Bay, Missouri on May 30, 1959. The couple returned to France for his final months of service, after which he was Honorably Discharged with the rank of Captain. 

Dr. Plegge worked for Dr. George Stiles in Windsor, Missouri for one year before moving with his family to Linn, Missouri. Doc and Evie ran their veterinary practice out of the basement of their home on Lee Street for many years before building their clinic on Highway 50. Following the sale of their veterinary practice and retirement in 1999, Gene began driving for Carroll-Rehma Motors and continued for over twenty years, retiring at the age of eighty-two from Jim Butler Motors. 

Doc was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church, the Linn Masonic Lodge, the Linn Lions Club, and was a proud Shriner. He served several terms on the Linn School Board. Gene enjoyed music and art, as well as watching a variety of sports, especially when his children or grandchildren were playing. When he could get time away from the Vet clinic, he loved activities that challenged him, like woodworking, genealogy, fishing, camping, and deer hunting with family in Swiss, Missouri. Gene valued reading and continuing education; he never wanted to stop learning. 

Eugene is survived by his wife of sixty-five years, Evelyn of their home in Linn; a daughter, Debra (Carl) Henderson of Vienna, a son, Mark Plegge of O’Fallon, Illinois; his grandchildren, Sarah (Matthew) Stratman, Amanda (Justin) Fagre, Katherine (Nicholas) Smith, and Austin Henderson (Anastasia Stratman); his great-grandchildren, Jack Stratman, Jase Smith, Clemens Fagre, and Enrique and Vladimir Patino; six sisters-in-law, Darlene D'Angelo, Marlyn (Dale) Hofstetter, Janet (John) McHale, MaryAnn (Roland) Warmann, Eileen Pohlmann, and Edna Mae Pohlmann; two brothers-in-law, James Pohlmann and Larry (Lisa) Pohlmann, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers, Morley Plegge and Gary Plegge, six brothers-in-law, Al D’Angelo, Kermit Pohlmann, Kleo Pohlmann, Melvin Pohlmann, Kenneth Pohlmann, and Darwin Pohlmann, and two sisters-in-law, Marian Pohlmann, and Paulette Pohlmann.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 20, 2024, at Morton Chapel in Linn with a Masonic Service at 3:30 p.m.

Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Linn with Rev. Kayla Kelly-Beard officiating. Interment with military honors will be held in St. Paul’s Cemetery in Bay.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to Shriners Hospital or St. Jude Children’s Hospital

Arrangements are under the direction of Morton Chapel, Linn, Missouri (897-2214)  www.mortonchapel.com