This obituary appeared in the Madison papers, in April 2006. “Charlie” was the husband of classmate Barb (Watts) Ploetz.

Ploetz, Charles John

MIDDLETON/ PRAIRIE DU SAC – Charles John Ploetz died Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006, at the age of 88, at Hospice of the Valley in Tempe, Arizona. Formerly of Prairie du Sac and now Middleton, he spent part of each year in Arizona enjoying warm weather and spring baseball. Born September 1, 1917, son of Leonard and Elizabeth (Boehmer) Ploetz, Charlie’s formative years were in Prairie du Sac and Lodi. He started college at River Falls, later transferred to the University of Wisconsin where he received his bachelor and law degrees. It was after this that he attended Harvard Business School in the first MOC class. He married Margaret Stevenson of Arlington in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the day he graduated from Harvard. Margaret was the mother of his three children. She died in 1968 after a long struggle with MS. In 1972 he married Barbara Watts in Middleton. They had dogs. During World War II he served his country in the U.S. Navy as paymaster for the South Pacific submarine fleet aboard the U.S.S. Fulton. Following his career in the Navy he started a law practice in Prairie du Sac which he continued until he made a career change in the early 1970’s to banking. At the time of his death he was chairman of the board of the Bank of Prairie du Sac. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughters, Pamela (John Henderson) Ploetz of Madison, and Patricia (Edward Matthees) Ploetz of Minneapolis; son, Steven (Lori Marx) Ploetz of Prairie du Sac; parents of his two grandchildren, Paula and Andrew Ploetz. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Margaret; and his brother, Leonard. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, April 24, 2006, at 2 p.m. at ST. PETER’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 7125 County Road K, Ashton/Middleton. It will be concelebrated by Father Jim Hennen and Father Bud Hollfelder. Interment at St. Aloysius Cemetery in Sauk City will be private. Charlie loved the beauty of flowers and requested that you send them to yourself or a friend. Should you wish to make a memorial, he has requested it be to Catholic Charities, 702 S. High Point Road, PO Box 46550, Madison 53744-6550; or to the charity of your choice. He was beloved by his family. He will be sadly missed by them, the Stevenson and Watts families and his many, many friends. Cress Funeral & Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434 http://www.cressfuneralservice.com

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