Kenneth E. Pletcher

Kenneth E. Pletcher, 93, of Goshen, passed away Monday January 22, 2024 at Elkhart General Hospital. He was born February 9, 1930 in Elkhart County to Henry I. and Agnes L, Pletcher. He married Lois Jean Clementz on July 4, 1954. She preceded him in death on May 18, 2014. He married Thyra L. Metzler on October 25, 2015.

Ken graduated from Wakarusa High School Class of 1948. He served in the US Army during the Korean War where he was at the Atomic Bomb blast at Ulta Flats. Ken was the Vice-President of manufacturing at NIBCO and spoke highly about being a team player. He would say God first, then family, then NIBCO. He was a member of Beulah Missionary Church where he served as chairman of the church board and lived his life by living the Bible.  He was active in the community serving on numerous boards including Salvation Army, Youth for Christ, YMCA board. He served as president of the Elkhart County 4-H Fair Board and received the Indiana Hall of Fame Award. Ken taught his sons the value of hard work, whether it was clearing brush and splitting firewood to shoveling manure and caring for sheep, cattle and horses. He loved to farm and used it to teach his sons responsibilities.  He served on the Elkhart Redevelopment Committee and on several Ivy Tech Committees. Ken truly felt everyone should have the opportunity to achieve a greater education. He was a Paul Harris Fellow as a Rotarian and helped build a Habitat for Humanity home with the Rotary Club. He enjoyed his annual trips to Lake Oba in Canada. He also enjoyed being able to have a private pilots license to fly a single engine aircraft.  He enjoyed riding his Harley motorcycle and he also found time to do some farming! Ken’s favorite quote was: “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.”

Surviving are his 4 sons James A. (Karen) Pletcher of Middlebury, Mathew J. (Patti) Pletcher of Bristol, Jeffrey A. (Karen L.) Pletcher of Middle Brook, VA and Michael J. (Tracy) Pletcher of Manchester, MO, 10 grandchildren, Megan (Tim) Hochstetler, Lauren (Hubur) Barnett, Kristin (Josh) Payne; Matthew (Joanna) Pletcher, Mitchell (Nicole) Pletcher, Mackenzie (Nicholas) Schneider; Jessica (Majestic) Locklear, Katelin (Bryce) Curd; Kelsey (Tyler) Jones, Kyle (Laura) Pletcher, 19 great-grandchildren and sisters Sandra Bergin of Charlotte, NC., Esther McGowan of Cornwall, NY. and Jo Stein of Phoenix, AZ. He was preceded in death by sisters Hilda Hahn, Dorothy Berkey, Marjorie Shirk, Pauline Motts, Wilma Stickel, Mary Jean Freed and Maxine Hisey, and brothers, Ernest Pletcher, Donald Pletcher and Warren “Shorty” Pletcher.

Visitation will be 3 -7 pm Thursday February 1, 2024 at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514 and 1 hour before the 11 am service on Friday February 2, 2024  at Beulah Missionary Church, 57595 Old County Road 17, Goshen, IN 46528. Burial will follow at Olive West Cemetery, Elkhart.

Memorials for Ken may be given to the church. Online condolences may be left at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com