FRED PLANK Obituary

Fred Benjamin Plank, 97, of Baldwin City, Kansas, passed away on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at his apartment home.

Fred was born August 18, 1919, in Garden City, MO, the son of Fred Benjamin Plank, Sr. and Rose Ellen (Stoll) Plank. He attended Clearfork Grade School and was a graduate of the Class of 1937 at Garden City High School, Garden City, MO. He also attended Air Force College in Mt. Pleasant, IA.

He was inducted in the United States Army in 1942 and later transferred to the Army Air Corp in 1943. In 1944, he was transferred back to the Army to the 382nd Field Artillery. He was medically discharged in 1945.

Fred worked for Benson Lumber in Grandview, MO after the military and then moved to Baldwin City in 1945 to work for Baldwin Lumber as a bookkeeper. He later worked in several different professions, including as a clothier at a men's clothing store in Baldwin City, at Hercules Powder Co., DeSoto, KS and as an electronics repairman and salesman at Leo Smith Home Appliance. He later purchased ownership, changing the name to Baldwin Appliance. In 1979, he became a substitute rural letter carrier, later becoming a full-time rural letter carrier, retiring in 1993. Of all of his professions, his favorite was being a rural letter carrier.

Mr. Plank was a very active member of the Baldwin City community. Fred was a member of the Baldwin City American Legion Post 228, Baldwin Golf Association, Baldwin Volunteer Fire Department, Palmyra Lodge #23AF&AM Masonic Lodge, and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association. He worked 41 years running the time-clock at Baldwin High School basketball games. He also worked for 46 years at athletic events at Kansas University. Throughout his life he enjoyed playing baseball, bowling and fishing; however his real passion was playing golf, often 3-4 times per week. He was also an avid reader; when he could, he would read a book a day. He was also a very loyal fan of the Kansas Jayhawks and the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals baseball teams.

On June 6, 1945, Fred was united in marriage with Mary Elizabeth Mawson at the Methodist Church in Olathe, KS. They shared over 62 years of marriage until Mary passed away October 17, 2007.

He is also preceded in death by his parents; sister Bernice Hensley, brother, Dewey Plank, and an infant brother Howard Plank.

Fred is survived by his son, Tom Plank, Baldwin City; daughter Susan Case and her husband, Bob, Lawrence; brother Rodger Plank, Whitefish, MT.; three grandchildren, Kyle Case and his wife, Kelly, Eudora; Mark Case and his wife, Katie, Kansas City, KS., Katie McAleese and her husband, Nathan, Lawrence; six great grandchildren, Justice McAleese, Hailin McAleese, Landon McAleese, Casen McAleese, Tyler Case, and Alexandria Case.

To celebrate Fred's life, the family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, October 27, 2016 at Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, Baldwin City, KS. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church, Baldwin City. Inurnment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Baldwin City. Memorial contributions are suggested to Baldwin Education Foundation or Baldwin City Library sent in c/o Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Condolences may be sent to family through www.lamb-roberts.com.