John Plunkett

John Lee "Thatch" Plunkett, 64, a resident of Churubusco and formerly of Fort Wayne, passed away at 6:30 a. m. on Friday, April 20, 2012, at the family residence.e He had been battling cancer for the past seven years, and had been more seriously ill since 2010. Mr. Plunkett was born in Fort Wayne on January 20, 1948, a son of John James and Alice Caroline (Christiansen) Plunkett.e He lived in Churubusco as a boye before moving with his family to Fort Wayne in 1960.e He graduated from Elmhurst High School, and served with the U. S. Army in Vietnam.e After completing his military service he lived in Fort Wayne for a period before moving to Churubusco in 1987. Employed at B & W Equipment in Fort Wayne for 23 years, he retired from there as the welding shop supervisor. He was a member of the Churubusco Veteran's of Foreign Wars Turtle Post 3846, and was known as a dependable, trustworthy, caring and "ornery" man. On February 23, 2012 he was married in Churubusco to Janet (Gordy) Shroyer.e She survives. Other surviving relatives include his children Maria Plunkett and Troy Lee Plunkett, both of Fort Wayne, and Amber Plunkett of Columbia City; three step-children Doug (Michelle) Shroyer of Albion, and Lori Fulk and Kathy (Ted) Hays, both of Churubusco; a sister Beverly Plunkett of Fort Wayne; 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters Sharon and Darlene. Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m.e Tuesday, April 24, 2012, in the Churubusco United Methodist Church, with Pastor Corinne K. Boruff-Stucker, officiating. The family will receive friends at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Monday from 2-4 and from 6-8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service Tuesday morning. Interment with military graveside rites will be in the Highland Park Cemetery in Fort Wayne. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana. ****************************************