John Carl Plume

John Plume, 83, passed away on May 10th, 2024 after battling stage four pancreatic cancer for one year. Born on August 2nd, 1940, John lived a full and vibrant life from beginning to end and touched the lives of many people along the way. John stayed in contact with people from every period of his life. He was known for his kindness and easy-going personality, often uttering his favorite phrase, "it is what it is".
At five years old, John and his family fled their home country of Latvia during World War II and temporarily settled in a displaced persons' camp called Insula, in Berchtesgaden, Germany. John developed his love of the outdoors there, surrounded by the German Alps. The Plume family emigrated to the United States under the sponsorship of the Lutheran Church on March 21, 1949.
They settled in St. Joseph, Michigan, where John graduated high school in 1960. He went on to earn a degree in Wildlife Management and Physical Science at Michigan State University. After college graduation, he worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, managing Peninsula State Park and later, Newport State Park, both located in Door County, Wisconsin.
John met Diane Wavrin in 1967 in Duluth, Minnesota and they married in 1968. They moved to Milwaukee in 1969, where John started a new career in insurance claims. He worked for State Farm Insurance and retired in 1999. While with State Farm, they moved to Minnesota in 1970, and ultimately to Edina. John and Diane raised 2 wonderful daughters, Katie & Marissa.
In retirement, John dedicated himself, along with his brother Ventis, to researching and assembling a comprehensive history of Insula and its temporary residents during and after World War II. He went back to Latvia to reclaim his family's farm and to reconnect with the extended Plume family there.
John spent time, most recently, battling buckthorn and serving the Lord at Meetinghouse Church. John and Marissa went on many hiking adventures around the world. He was a fixture at his #1 grandson, Jordan's, sporting events which included soccer, hockey and fishing.
John is survived by his daughters Katie VandenHoek and Marissa Plume, and grandson Jordan VandenHoek. The family is holding a memorial service to celebrate John's life on May 16th, 2024 at 11 am at the Meetinghouse Church, 6200 Colonial Way, Edina, MN. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Newport State Park or Peninsula State Park.