It is so sad how quickly I forget things. I no longer have any grandparents on my side and when my wife asked me my dad's mom's maiden name I couldn't remember to save my life. I knew if I heard it I would remember. So now I want to make note somewhere to there names and what I remember about them.
My Father: Merle Jay Plotner died on March 22, 1981 of heart complications at Mount Carmel Hospital in Columbus. He was the pastor at Marengo and Sparta Methodist Church (parish). We had only been in Marengo for about 2 years before he passed. During that time dad became very well known. He received his doctorate degree from Asbury Methodist Theological Seminary in Delaware Ohio. He was much smarter than I will ever be. He had a true passion for the Lord and for leading others to Christ. I know that my dad would have just adored my daughters and wish he could have met them here on earth. But they will meet him some day. One of my last memories of dad was when me and a friend of mine came into the house and didn't see dad's car so we didn't know he was home and I said a bad word. All I heard was "TIM, Could you please come here a minute." of course to save my hide, I denied it. But he knew what I said. Before becoming a pastor he worked at HPM in Mt. Gilead. I remember that he talked about knowing God was calling him to the ministry. As a Methodist pastor, he had to move were ever they needed him. I know he started out in Chesterhill Ohio, were I was born. The only memory I have of that place was sleeping in Kindergarten class on the little mats and I remember when a big barn burnt down just across the street from where we lived. I remember cause I asked someone what the smell was and they said it was the cows that were stuck in the barn. At the time I was grossed out, Now I'm thinking BAR-B-QUE! The next place was Cadiz, Ohio. I have some great memories of that place and some really bad ones. I remember being a little reluctant to move from there but because of being hurt by who I thought was a really close friend I was ready to move.
Though, I am glad where the Lord has brought me, I would have loved to have had dad around today. My mom, Donna Plotner, still living (Thank God) is a very strong women. She was a solid example during the time of my dad's passing. Of course there were many tears but mom knew living in a parsonage at the time that we would need to move out very soon. Like his death wasn't enough. But mom kept positive and God opened the opportunity of land by my grandparents and she put a double wide on that property. Many people helped us at that time and it restored some of my trust in my fellow man. I was also happy because it was a lot closer to a girl I liked. Nothing happened there but you know how young boys are. Later my grandparents put another double wide right next to my mom's due to health reasons it put them as close as possible to her.
My dad's parents were Frank and Mable (Whipple) Plotner. They used to live near were my mom put her double wide but they had an old house on the hill. I remember when we would go to there house they didn't really have many cool toys. They would use things like wood blocks and stones. Grandma would give us a dish with dish soap and water and a wooden spool to blow bubbles in. Though now it seems primitive but we didn't think much about it at the time. Grandpa Plotner was a double amputee due to having some disease that took his legs when he was still quite young. The man was amazing though. He still drove a car (it was all push button controls) with just one leg that was taken below his knee. He also would mow his own lawn, plant his own flowers and refinished furniture. He played a air pump organ that you would normally pump with foot pedals, but he hooked it up to a vacuum motor and could play without using the pedals. The man was a genius! Wish I could have an ounce of is ingenuity!!! I also remember going to visit them at there Cardington home on the corner of Boundry and Water Streets. We would sip Ice tea or lemonade and sing around the pump organ. One of grandpas favorite songs was "What a friend we have in Jesus". Also we would sit out on the front porch on there slider rocker and watch the weirdos in Cardington go by. Fun!
Grandma Plotner went to the elderly assisted living place on Baker St. in Mt. Gilead not long after finding out she had Alzheimer's disease. She passed away around 1994 and did get to meet my daughter Sarah before she died.
My Mom's parents I felt somewhat closer to, mostly because they were around longer. Grandpa Kunze went by Paul Kunze but his real name was Edgar Paul Kunze. Another strong man of God that was a stern but loving person. I know when my mom was young, they were very disciplinary, but as they got older much more laid back and easy going. I have so many memories of them. Especially when they had the house at Candlewood lake. We would all go out on the pontoon boat and fish off the side. Grandpa would fillet the fish when we brought them in and Grandma would cook it up for us. I also think I remember them more because of all of the family get togethers we would have.
Grandma Kunze also had Alzheimer's decease and Grandpa took such good care of her, My mom too. You could see it was a lot for Grandpa to handle. I will never forget when he passed away was 2-3 days after the 9/11/01 attack on the World Trade Center. I remember when Grandpa was getting bad and we were all there watching TV. Grandpa kept saying, "What is this world coming to?". I think it took a lot from him too. Grandma was put in the nursing home in Chesterville were she lasted a couple years after that.
Grandpa and Grandma (Francis Yoakum) Kunze used to live up by Johnsville Ohio. They had a farm up there a long time back and I remember helping on the dairy farm, playing in the barn and the smell of the silage (cow food).
I will probably add to this later but just wanted a place to store these memories.
SEE YA
