Services for Julius Pleinis, 86, of Aberdeen are 10 a.m. Saturday, July 13, 2013, at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, with Pastor Tanya Rist officiating. Burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens, military honors by Sidney L. Smith American Legion Post No. 24.
Julius died Tuesday, July 9, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital.
Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
A full life lived by Julius "Jules" Pleinis ended after 86 years, when he died suddenly on July 9, 2013.
He was born on May 27, 1927, the fifth of six children born to Jacob and Katherine (Wanner) Pleinis. He grew up in Eureka, attending Eureka Public Schools and graduating from high school in 1945. He loved playing sports, especially basketball. He also loved telling stories of his teenage years about himself and friends piling into the old car and attending dances in the neighboring towns.
After high school, he entered the U.S. Navy in June 1945 and proudly served his country in the Pacific Theater, until he was honorably discharged in 1946 as a Yeoman Third Class.
He returned to Eureka, where he worked for the Eureka Rexall Drug until 1948. He attended Kansas City School of Watchmaking, Diamond Setting and Jewelry Repair, graduating in 1951. On June 23, 1951, he married LaVerna Funk from Ashley, N.D. To this union, two sons were born, Michael and Kevin. In 1953, the family moved to Madison, where he worked at the Rexall Drug & Jewelry. In 1959, he purchased Nagel Jewelry store in Aberdeen and renamed it Pleinis Jewelry, which remained a fixture in Aberdeen for 43 years. He semi-retired, but never gave up his passion or love for jewelry. On January 22, 1988, he married Jane Heckenlaible, they resided at Richmond Lake, where they enjoyed fishing and gardening. Later, they moved into Aberdeen.
Grateful for having shared Julius' life are his wife; Jane Pleinis, Aberdeen; sons: Michael Pleinis, Ogden, Utah, Kevin Pleinis, Aberdeen; stepchildren: Crystal (Scott) Boone, Warner, Curtis Hoffman, Meridianville, Ala., and Holly (Brian) Slater, Queen Creek, Ariz.; stepgrandchildren: Angela, Dana, Kaden and Trevor; sisters: Martha Westburg, Chattanooga, Tenn. and Ella Kramlich, Eureka; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Julius was preceded in death by his first wife, LaVerna Pleinis; parents: Jacob and Katherine Pleinis; stepgrandson, Brandon Hoffman; brothers: Herb, Ray and Harry Pleinis; two stepsisters: Pearl Kessler and Donna Weller.
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