Allen Vern Plautz was born Oct. 8, 1945, in Seward, the son of Vern Ben and Verna Mae (Eikenhorst) Plautz, and passed away June 12, 2025, at the age of 79 years, 8 months and 4 days.
Allen was baptized Nov. 20, 1945, at Zion Lutheran Church in Garland and confirmed March 22, 1959, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lincoln. Allen graduated from Seward High School with the Class of 1963. He attended the Nebraska Technical School in Milford, graduating with a certification to teach diesel mechanics. He joined The United States Marine Corps on Oct. 14, 1965. Allen did his Basic Training in San Diego, California, and served at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as a truck driver and mechanic.
On April 22, 1967, he was united in marriage to Janet Ocken at St John’s Lutheran Church in Seward. Allen began his career as a mechanic at Hicklin GM Diesel, where he moved up to service manager. In 1972, he moved his family to Lake Benton, Minnesota, where he started his farming career until August 1977. They then moved back to Seward and continued to farm until 2023.
Allen and Janet moved to Goodyear, Arizona, for the winters starting in 2010 and retired there in 2023, spending time with family and friends and working in his shop. Allen was a member of River of Life Lutheran Church in Goodyear, Arizona.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Vern and Verna Plautz; grandparents and parents-in-law, Lester and Ruth Ocken.
Survivors cherishing his memory include his wife, Janet Plautz, Goodyear; two daughters, Dr. Jennifer Lynn Roll and husband, Chris, Maple Grove, Minnesota, Jill Marie Powers and husband, Larry, Scottsdale, Arizona; his grandchildren, Ethan Oldham, Ryan Powers, Abigail Oldham, Elliot Oldham and Zachary Powers; two brothers, Terry and wife, Karin Plautz, Stan and wife, Sharon Plautz; three sisters-in-law, Janice and husband, Darold Schulz, Connie and husband, Terry Hackbart, and Frankie Phillips; brother-in-law, Dennis Ocken; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Wednesday, June 25, from 1 – 8:30 p.m. at Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 6 – 8 p.m. The funeral service will be Thursday, June 26, at 10: 30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Seward with interment at the Seward Cemetery.
Arrangements by Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home.
