Dr. John Pierre Plankeel

1944 - 2023

John Pierre Plankeel, MD, age 79 of Mystic, Connecticut, passed away suddenly on Thursday, July 20, 2023 after succumbing to injuries he sustained in a tragic fall. He was born January 17, 1944 in Oak Park, IL and was the son of Frederik Jan and Anjean Dykstra Plankeel. He graduated from Lyons Township High School in La Grange, IL in 1961 and from Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL in 1965. While at college, he played football and was an ice hockey goalie. In 1964, he married his college sweetheart, Donalyne Elise Fales of Mystic, CT. They have been happily married for almost 59 years.
Dr. Plankeel earned his Medical Degree from Northwestern University in Chicago in 1969 and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Boston City Hospital Harvard Medical Service in 1972. He served our country in the Air Force as chief of medicine for Plattsburgh AFB Hospital for two years before joining the Gales Ferry Medical Group in CT. Dr. Plankeel retired in 2010 after 36 years in private practice. The depth of his experience also included L+M emergency room work, seven years of service at the Pequot Health Center, a summer with the New London Community Health Center, employment as a plant physician at Pfizer in Groton, and duty as medical director at four local skilled nursing facilities. He also served as a state delegate to the Christian Medical and Dental Association.
Dr. Plankeel was a beloved and respected physician in our community. After retirement, he continued to stay abreast of the most modern advances in medicine, serving as a Liaison for L+M Hospital and tirelessly continuing to serve anyone and everyone within his reach with medical advice and care.
John and Dona have attended Groton Bible Chapel for the past 49 years, where John has been an instrumental leader in many different areas. To spotlight a small fraction of them, he served on the Missions Committee and was a Deacon, a greeter, and the director of Men's Ministry. John more recently served as director of GBC's Visitation Ministry and as part of the leadership team of GBC's new Grandparent's Ministry. In every area that he served, he did so with passion, dedication, and a love for the Lord.
John loved to spend his time with his family, golfing, sailing, reading, learning, and tending to his yard. His adventurous spirit led him to become an instrument-rated pilot. He and his wife also loved to travel and explore. After retirement, they traveled the world together.
Dr. Plankeel is survived by three children, John Frederik of Lynchburg, VA (married to Julie), Julie Beth of Stonington, CT (married to Gregory Duba), and Jeffrey Donald of Colorado Springs, CO (married to Renee). He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Kelsey, Rebecca, Sarah, Haley, Siobhan, Karis, Lela, and Samuel. He will be sorely missed by his family, who adored his spiritual wisdom, adventurous spirit, and wonderful humor.
For John's loving family, and for our entire community, his passing is a devastating loss. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2pm on Saturday, July 29 at Groton Bible Chapel in Groton, CT. John's heart was for sharing the love of Christ with others through missions and medicine. In lieu of flowers, and in tribute to John, a donation may be made to the Missions Fund at Groton Bible Chapel (https://pushpay.com/g/grotonbiblechapel), Avalonia Land Conservancy (https://avalonia.org/donate/), or the Christian Medical and Dental Association (https://give.cmda.org). Arrangements are being made by Mystic Funeral Home.