Elaine Clara Plagge

Elaine Clara Plagge, beloved mother, grandmother and friend to many, passed away peacefully on October 30, 2024. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 7, at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Latimer. Visitation at the church was held Wednesday, November 6, from 4-7 p.m. Burial will take place at the Marion Center Cemetery near Latimer. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sietsema-Atkinson Funeral Home in Hampton.

Elaine was born on November 6, 1933, in Latimer to parents Harry and Clara (Pralle) Jensen. She married Dean Plagge on June 13, 1951, and soon after they started farming near Sheffield. They later moved to the family farm north of Latimer where they raised their family of five children. In 1979, Elaine and Dean opened DE-J Feeds in Hampton and later expanded their business to Latimer, eventually selling the business to a local co-op. Whether farming or operating the grain elevator, Elaine and Dean functioned as a true partnership.

Church, family and friends were important elements of Elaine’s life. She enjoyed cooking and her mashed potatoes, sugar cookies and Danish pecan cookies, along with all of the other traditional holiday foods, were always an anticipated Thanksgiving and Christmas treat. One Thanksgiving, she decided to offer a variety of soups rather than mashed potatoes and turkey. Her grandchildren (with winks and hugs) never let her live it down; that mistake was never made again. She also was a consummate pie baker, making a wide variety of pies without ever looking at a recipe. Elaine always enjoyed playing games and cards with her friends and grandchildren; 500 and Chickenfoot were favorites. She rarely sat still and loved being surrounded by her large family, her many nieces and nephews, their spouses and friends from the community.

Elaine was a devoted member of the United Church of Christ in Latimer for more than 73 years, serving in many roles throughout her life. She continued to attend church regularly even after moving to Apple Valley in Clear Lake. After moving to Latimer from the farm, she also became an active member of the Latimer Park Society.

In addition to her parents, Elaine was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Dean Plagge; an infant daughter; her sisters Evelyn Johnson and Mae Marie Pettis; her brother Harry Lee Jensen, and her twin brother, Earl Jensen. She is survived by her five children, daughter Jackie Lehman (Howard) and sons Jody Plagge (Connie), Jeff Plagge (Sandy), Jay Plagge (Valerie), and James Plagge (Jane); 14 grandchildren - Katherine and Julia Lehman, Nick, Luke, and Mitch Plagge, Tom, Adam, and Brian Plagge, Jena and Jake Plagge, and Andy, Alex, Jack, and Kate Plagge; 21 great-grandchildren; brother Bud Jensen, and sisters Laura Christensen and Lois Muhlenbruck.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials be directed to Immanuel United Church of Christ Memorial Fund or the Latimer Park Society.

The family would like to extend its gratitude to the staff at Concord Care Center in Garner and St. Croix Hospice who took exceptional care of our mother during her final weeks, along with Apple Valley Place in Clear Lake where she lived for several years. We appreciate the many friends who sent cards, phoned, and visited her at the facility. A special thank you to Pastor Joe Dunnwald for the spiritual comfort he provided these past weeks.