Josephine Plucker

Josephine Plucker, 89 of Parker, died on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls. Her funeral service will be 10:30 AM Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at the Chancellor Reformed Church with burial at the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM Monday, September 2, 2024 at the church. Live streaming of the service will be on Facebook Live on the Chancellor Reformed Church page. Arrangements provided by Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home.

Josephine Ann (Andersen) Plucker was born to Elmer Peder and Evelyn Viola (Dwyer) Andersen on their farm near Davis, SD, on October 5, 1934.  She attended country schools through grade six and graduated from Chancellor High School in 1952. She especially enjoyed running and cheerleading.

She married her high school sweetheart and classmate, Kenneth Lowell Plucker, Sr., in her parents’ home on August 27, 1952.  They reached the milestone few couples do, celebrating 72 years of marriage!  Ken and Jo moved up and down the West Coast while Ken served aboard the USS Essex in the US Navy during the Korean War.  Bruce and Kathryn were born during this time.  In 1956, the couple moved back to the Chancellor area, where they started farming.  Soon, Barbara and Mary joined the family. Ken and Jo moved to their farm east of Parker in 1962, where they farmed and retired.  Kenneth, Jr. and Joseph completed the family.

Josephine lived life fully: Raising her family, working on the farm, and entertaining. In her retirement, you could find Josephine giving rides to people on her golf cart, making aprons, quilting, and canning items from the garden. She blessed many lives by sewing gifts for her family and church friends.  As a faithful and lifelong member of Chancellor Reformed Church, she enjoyed ladies’ Dorcus Circle Bible study for 68 years. Notably, she made two trips to Africa.

Josephine went to her Savior, Jesus Christ, on August 28, 2024 at the age of 89.  She was preceded in death by her four year-old son: Bruce Plucker; infant great-granddaughters: Aliza Lanser and Ellie Tinklenberg; her parents; parents-in-law: Herman and Sophie Plucker; siblings: Charlotte Vietor and Gifford Andersen; in-laws: Kenneth Vietor, Glenn Plucker, and Virgil and Arlene Plucker.

Grateful and blessed for having shared her life are her husband, her children, and their spouses: Kathy (Perry) Tinklenberg, Barb (Kip) Roozen, Mary (Loren) Mendel, Kenneth Jr. (Kellie) Plucker, and Joseph (Kay) Plucker; grandchildren:  Laura (Matthew) Lanser, Michael (Jena) Tinklenberg, Jason (Lisa) Olson, Ryan (Sonja) Olson, Samantha (Travis) Wipf, Josee (Maxwel) Biberdorf, Isaac (Elizabeth) Mendel, Zeb Mendel, Andrew (Nicole) Plucker, Abby (Jared) Vlastuin, Pierce Plucker, Grant Plucker, Mace Plucker; 20 great-grandchildren; her brother Pete (Joanne) Andersen; sister-in-law Elaine Plucker: and many other family and friends.