Home > United States of America > Nebraska > Clay County > Sutton > Sutton Cemetery > Geraldine Wilhelmina “Gerré” Griess Plettner

Geraldine Wilhelmina “Gerré” Griess Plettner

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Birth	:	19 Aug 1921 Sutton, Clay County, Nebraska, USA
Death	:	14 Dec 2012 Sutton, Clay County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Sutton Cemetery, Sutton, Clay County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.6189003, -97.8644028
Plot	:	03W-03-11-08
Description	:	Geraldine "Gerré" Wilhelmina Plettner, 91 passed from this life Friday, December 14, 2012, at the Sutton Community home in Sutton, NE. Geraldine was born to Hugo Edwin and Amolia "Mollie" (Lissman)Griess in Sutton, NE. on August 19, 1921, the second of six children. Gerré, as she was better known, started school at the Cottage School in Sutton, which was a German-medium school, but at the age of 5 moved to Lincoln, NE, where she spent most of her growing-up years graduating from Jackson High School in 1940. She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on an art scholarship and worked at... Read More	Geraldine "Gerré" Wilhelmina Plettner, 91 passed from this life Friday, December 14, 2012, at the Sutton Community home in Sutton, NE. Geraldine was born to Hugo Edwin and Amolia "Mollie" (Lissman)Griess in Sutton, NE. on August 19, 1921, the second of six children. Gerré, as she was better known, started school at the Cottage School in Sutton, which was a German-medium school, but at the age of 5 moved to Lincoln, NE, where she spent most of her growing-up years graduating from Jackson High School in 1940. She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on an art scholarship and worked at Robinson's Department store as a window designer. On July 29, 1943, she married Elmer Plettner, Jr., who coincidentally was also from Sutton but not from a German-Russian heritage as she was. Early years of their marriage, they lived in Georgia, California and Kansas before moving to Nebraska. The post war years were difficult, and they farmed near Valley, NE where 3 of their four sons were born, the oldest having been born in Kansas while Elmer Jr. was still in the service. In 1951, they moved back to her husband's hometown of Sutton where the two have lived since. Having grown up in Lincoln, Gerré never expected to live in Sutton where so many of her aunts, uncles, and cousins lived. Together Elmer and Gerré raised their family in Sutton building several successful businesses, Sutton TV Center, Precious Memory Monuments, and Plettner Aerial Spray in addition to starting farming again with the purchase of their first of several farms in 1965. She worked alongside Elmer in all of these businesses. She was born again into a deeper understanding of her relationship with Jesus Christ that her husband had found during World War II. This faith grew and was the mainstay of the rest of her life. She was a member of both the Sutton Christian Church and the Clay Center Christian Church. She taught Sunday Bible School and Vacation Bible School in Sutton long after her own children were out of school. She did not just teach prepared lessons but taught directly from the Bible preparing every lesson for the children diligently. She loved Jesus, His Word, and his church and sought to equip herself in spiritual matters as much as she could. In spite of being busy with family and working in the businesses and church, she was also active in the Sutton Women's Club, Associated Artist of Omaha, Hastings Art Club, American Legion Women's Axillary, Sutton Mother's Band Club, and the Women's Nebraska Aviation Trade Association serving as its president. She passed her Solo Pilot's license and studied for a Private Pilot's license. Gerré and Elmer were active in the Cessna 180-185 Club and Flying Farmers and flew with their private airplane regularly with these clubs to many places in the United States, Mexico, and Central America. They traveled to India twice as well as trips to the Holy Land, Philippines, Australia, Argentina, and Europe. In addition to all of these things, she maintained her desire to be an artist. She was particularly a portrait artist painting portraits for friends and on commission of loved ones even after their death. She painted murals for a number of church baptisteries. One of her murals graces the Nolde Community Center's reception room. She sold some of her paintings but many hung in her own home and the homes of family and friends. Through the art clubs in Omaha and Hastings, she took up other forms of art including jewelry making and using an acetylene torch for sculpture in addition to traditional clay sculpture and molded polyethylene resin. She was a regular art judge for many art contests and for the Sutton school. Gerré was also an athlete pitching for the Sutton Girls' Softball team for many years even into her 60s. She golfed and played tennis. She took up skiing at the age of 60, and played volleyball and softball in the Senior Olympics a number of years. She is survived by her sons, Elmer III of San Francisco, CA; Steven and wife Ann of Lincoln residing in Asia; David and wife Hannele of Sutton, NE; 5 grandchildren, Jaana Pauls and her husband Joel of Alexandria, VA; Aaron Plettner and his wife Rebecca of Sutton, NE; Caleb Plettner and his wife Suzy of Lincoln, NE; Jed Plettner and his wife Melissa of Lincoln, NE; and Nina Plettner of Lincoln, NE. She is also survived by her sister Virginia (Griess) Tribble of Lincoln, NE; sister Marilyn (Griess) Potter and her husband Carl of Lincoln, NE; brother Ron Griess and his wife Marge of Lincoln, NE; brother-in-law Eldon "Dutch" Plettner and wife Betty of Sutton, NE; sister-in-law Evelyn (Plettner) Hardin of Seattle, WA; and sister-in-law Etta Jean (Plettner) Janzen and husband Hank of Henderson, NE. At her death Gerré had 6 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. All will miss her. Gerré was preceded in death by: husband Elmer Jr. in 2003, youngest son Lon in 1981, parents, brother Rubert Griess, and sister Norma (Griess) Shumaker. Interment was in the Sutton Cemetery, Sutton, NE.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Geraldine Wilhelmina “Gerré” Griess Plettner's memorial?
Geraldine Wilhelmina “Gerré” Griess Plettner's memorial is located at: Sutton Cemetery, Sutton, Clay County, USA.
When did Geraldine Wilhelmina “Gerré” Griess Plettner death?
Geraldine Wilhelmina “Gerré” Griess Plettner death on 14 Dec 2012 in Sutton, Clay County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Geraldine Wilhelmina “Gerré” Griess Plettner's memorial?
Latitude: 40.6189003
Longitude: -97.8644028

Family Members:

Parent

Hugo Edwin Griess

(1898 - 1996)

Amolia “Mollie” Lissman Griess

(1900 - 1989)

Spouse

Elmer William Plettner Jr.

(1920 - 2003)

Siblings

Rubert H. Griess

(1920 - 1983)

Howard Richard “Axle” Griess

(1928 - 1996)

Marilyn J Griess Potter

(1935 - 2016)

Children

Lon E. Plettner

(1951 - 1981)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Sutton Cemetery
Sutton, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6189003, -97.8644028

2. Saronville United Methodist Cemetery
Saronville, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6147100, -97.9188500

3. Calvary Cemetery
Sutton, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5746994, -97.8636017

4. Saron Lutheran Church Cemetery
Saronville, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6110992, -97.9297028

5. Percival Family Lot
Saronville, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5824700, -97.9199400

6. Free German Reformed Salem Church Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6697220, -97.8227780

7. Emmanuel Reformed Church Cemetery
School Creek Township, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6847220, -97.8811110

8. Verona Danish Cemetery
Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5685997, -97.9756012

9. Verona Swedish Cemetery
Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5677986, -97.9764023

10. Farmers Valley Cemetery
Hamilton County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7216988, -97.8533020

11. Stockham Cemetery
Stockham, Hamilton County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7111015, -97.9408035

12. Holy Cross Cemetery
Grafton, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6150017, -97.7108002

13. Grafton Cemetery
Grafton, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6157990, -97.7106018

14. Lushton Cemetery
Lushton, York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7125100, -97.7317100

15. Fairview Cemetery
Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4817009, -97.8133011

16. Marshall Union Evergreen Cemetery
Clay Center, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4880300, -97.9573000

17. Faith Evangelical Bible Cemetery
Henderson, York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7633018, -97.8056030

18. Chapel Grove Cemetery
Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4660988, -97.8816986

19. Friesen Cemetery
Hamilton County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7743988, -97.8450012

20. Clay Center Cemetery
Clay Center, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.5325012, -98.0500031

21. Mennonite Cemetery
Lushton, York County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7560997, -97.7391968

22. Eller Cemetery
Clay Center, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4956700, -98.0145700

23. Saint Marys Cemetery
Shickley, Fillmore County, USA
Coordinate: 40.4816700, -97.7295400

24. Harvard Cemetery
Harvard, Clay County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6123047, -98.0920258