John was born Aug 10, 1931 in Ora, IN, one of 6 children to John and Ethel (Greer) Plante. He attended Ora School and Knox High School. John served in the US Marine Corps from 1950 - 1954. He participated in operations against enemy forces in South and Central Korea, in which he received several medals for combat. He entered the Navy Reserves in 1962, and served 27 years until his retirement in 1989. John was very proud of his military service, and looked forward every year to attending his Marine Corps Brotherhood and Survivors reunion of the How Co., 3rd Battalion, 7th Regiment, First Marine Division, FMF Korea 1950 - 1953. John worked for 42 years at Culver Academies as the Building Maintenance Supervisor, and was a bus driver for athletic events and other school functions. He was a lifetime member of the Finney-Shilling VFW Post 6919 of Culver and the Colllins-Tasch American Legion Post 399 of Monterey, and was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Maxinkuckee Lodge 373. On May 9, 1953 he married Joyce E. Mikesell at the Mt. Hope Church, Culver, IN. Their daughter Gloria Diana was born on June 13, 1954. Their son, Wayne Michael was born on January 26, 1957. John is survived by his wife Joyce of Culver and son Wayne, of Deland FL, son-in-law Gary Hinton of Culver, IN, grandson Peter (Kellie) Manzuk of Plymouth, IN, granddaughter Andrea Manzuk of Phoenix, AZ, and grandson David Plante of Elkhart, IN. John had 6 great-grandchildren: Matthew Manzuk of Plymouth, IN, and Colin, Tyler, Regan, Blake, and Kendall Plante of Elkhart, IN. John is also survived by his sisters Camilla (John) Brettin of Knox, IN, Donna Hunnicutt of Ora, IN, and Betty (Richard) Brettin of Knox, IN. John was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Vern and Richard, and daughter Gloria. Services have been entrusted to the Bonine-Odom Funeral Home, Culver, where friends may join the family in celebration John's life on Monday, May 12, 2008 from 2 - 8pm EDT. Rev. Curtis Heydt will officiate funeral services of Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 10am EDT at the Culver Academies Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you please consider contributions to one of the following: Culver Community Christmas Fund, c/o Marlene Mahler - Union Township Trustee, the Culver Food Pantry, c/o Pat Birk, or Hospice of Marshall County. |
| John P. Plante, Jr. August 10, 1931 - May 4, 2008 |
