MARY RUTH (METTLER) PLEUSS, 69, of Wheat Ridge, Colo. passed away July 12, 2015 following a valiant battle with cancer. Local family members and friends were with her throughout her illness. Ms. Pleuss was born on January 29, 1946 in Chicago, Ill. to Charles W. and Margaret (Minich) Mettler. She was raised in La Grange, Ill. and graduated from high school at Lyons Township in La Grange. Mary’s post-school years were spent in Honolulu as a Navy wife, Manitowoc, Wis., as a young mother and Lakewood, Colo., where she raised her children. Mary worked for 33 years at the Jeffco YMCA (Lakewood) and Duncan YMCA (Arvada) where she was involved with capital campaigns, fund-raising efforts and the everyday business of the YMCA organization. She loved playing tennis and golf throughout her life and spent many hours with her grandchildren in swimming lessons at the Y. Mary was a talented seamstress and also loved to crochet. Her hands were never idle. Her friends and family members treasure the amazing hand-made gifts received throughout the years. She was also fervent at keeping the Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding special-occasion-dinner tradition alive for her family. A tradition passed down through Mary’s mother and grandmother. Mary had many fond memories of summers spent at her family’s home on Silver Lake with the view of the stunning sand dunes near Mears, Mich. She also loved trips to Maui over the years when her parents shared their beach side residence in Kihei. Mary was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by, and will be greatly missed by her children, Deanna (Ryan) Duray of Westminster, Colo., and Dennis (Ginger) Pleuss of Lakewood, Colo., one sister, Pam Bankart of Greenville, N.H., her twin brother, Michael (Sandra) Mettler of Eagle River, Wis., and brother, Richard Mettler of Mears, Mich., her grandchildren, ReEnna and Evan Duray, and Reid and Natalie Pleuss, and nieces, nephews, and friends. Her daughter and son wishes to thank the kind caregivers at Saint Joseph Hospital (Denver), the Collier Hospice Center (Wheat Ridge), and many friends for their love and support during Mary’s battle the past few years. A service to celebrate the life of Mary Pleuss will be held at the Duncan YMCA in Arvada at a time and date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, Deanna and Dennis ask contributions to be made to the Duncan YMCA (6350 Eldridge St., Arvada, CO 80004) in honor of Mary.
Sorry to hear about Mary's passing. Have a lot of memories about her. We went to Goodman School together and were in Blue Birds and Campfire Girls together too. Mary's mother was our leader in Blue Birds and Campfire Girls, and her grandmother lived down the street from us and I took art project lessons from her. Condolences to her family members!
My family moved to La Grange when I was in seventh grade in May, from a south side Chicago school. (Yea, I was a bit tough! That was survival!) My parents met with the principal of Cossitt School (Clarabelle Henson????- Correct me if this isn't correct, Margeson) who said that I should enter the last two weeks of the 7th grade class before summer vacation in order to "acclimate" and to establish some friends. Good woman. I found Mary and Mike Mettler who lived across the street from me on Stone Avenue and they were so friendly and accepting of an "interloper." Through the ensuing summer Mary and I had contests to see who could finish washing the dishes (no dishwasher for us....) and meet at my house. And we talied those wins and losses. I cannot for the life of me remember the outcomes, We also had a love for Nancy Drew books. Between Mary's collection and mine - and the library - we read those books all through the summer. Other students figure into my time at that time, but Mary was, unconditionally, a great friend who was able to help in bridging me over into a suburban culture that I was not able, at that time to completely absorb. I was a transplant from a strong blue collar neighborhood/culture to a more affluent neighborhood suburban town. I was very happy that I talked to you, Mike, after our last LT reunion meeting. Please let your family know that I hold Mary as a very kind soul and I will never forget her friendship and acceptance of someone who became another student in her grade.
Awful sad to hear. I always thought---and still do--that Mary was a great gal. Classy, smart and very, very nice. I liked here very much. I hope Mike is okay. And, yes, Pam...the prinicpal of Cossitt was Clarabelle Henson. She was fantastic. She ran a tight ship, as she was supposed to do. The Sturgeons were good friends of hers. I was at Biil and Nancy's wedding rehearsal dinner, as was Miss Henson. She was hysterical!! A great lady, highly intelligent. Don't ask me how I know this, but Miss Henson was great friends of the Van Dorens--as in THAT Charles Van Doren. I remember her telling me one day during the quiz scandals that whatever it was, Charles did NOT cheat! There had to be an explanatrion. She was very upset by it all. Only time I ever knew her to be wrong. Something tells me Miss Henson went to Princeton!
I'm numb...I didn't know. Mary and Mike were probably the first friends I ever met. (although Billy Margeson was my first boyfriend after giving me 'glow in the dark' pjs for my 4th birthday. Mike and Mary were born on my mother's birthday, January 29. (Betty-Anne Champion, LT grad). My grandma, Betty Kelly took painting lessons from Grandma Minick, and she turned out to be a gifted artist. Mom and Maggie Mettler were best friends in HS and were sorority sisters at the University of Illinois. My Dad, John Champion (who just passed Oct 1, 2016 in his 100th year) became best friends with Chuck Mettler and they worked together for years at United Airlines, and partied together for years in Maui.
Mary was always my idol. She had the cutest 3 dimples I have ever seen, and a sparkling laugh I can still hear in my mind. I learned to waterski at the Mana Kai Michigan on the lake. So many happy memories. My heart goes out to all her family., Mike, Sandy, Pam, Dick, and the others I don't know. She was a very special person, from a very extraordinary family.
I remember those p.j.'s Annie!! Still got 'em? (You are so right about Mary. She and Mike were two of the nicest kids ever at L.T. Just lovely people.)
Jim Scheef
MARY RUTH (METTLER) PLEUSS, 69, of Wheat Ridge, Colo. passed away July 12, 2015 following a valiant battle with cancer. Local family members and friends were with her throughout her illness. Ms. Pleuss was born on January 29, 1946 in Chicago, Ill. to Charles W. and Margaret (Minich) Mettler. She was raised in La Grange, Ill. and graduated from high school at Lyons Township in La Grange. Mary’s post-school years were spent in Honolulu as a Navy wife, Manitowoc, Wis., as a young mother and Lakewood, Colo., where she raised her children. Mary worked for 33 years at the Jeffco YMCA (Lakewood) and Duncan YMCA (Arvada) where she was involved with capital campaigns, fund-raising efforts and the everyday business of the YMCA organization. She loved playing tennis and golf throughout her life and spent many hours with her grandchildren in swimming lessons at the Y. Mary was a talented seamstress and also loved to crochet. Her hands were never idle. Her friends and family members treasure the amazing hand-made gifts received throughout the years. She was also fervent at keeping the Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding special-occasion-dinner tradition alive for her family. A tradition passed down through Mary’s mother and grandmother. Mary had many fond memories of summers spent at her family’s home on Silver Lake with the view of the stunning sand dunes near Mears, Mich. She also loved trips to Maui over the years when her parents shared their beach side residence in Kihei. Mary was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by, and will be greatly missed by her children, Deanna (Ryan) Duray of Westminster, Colo., and Dennis (Ginger) Pleuss of Lakewood, Colo., one sister, Pam Bankart of Greenville, N.H., her twin brother, Michael (Sandra) Mettler of Eagle River, Wis., and brother, Richard Mettler of Mears, Mich., her grandchildren, ReEnna and Evan Duray, and Reid and Natalie Pleuss, and nieces, nephews, and friends. Her daughter and son wishes to thank the kind caregivers at Saint Joseph Hospital (Denver), the Collier Hospice Center (Wheat Ridge), and many friends for their love and support during Mary’s battle the past few years. A service to celebrate the life of Mary Pleuss will be held at the Duncan YMCA in Arvada at a time and date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, Deanna and Dennis ask contributions to be made to the Duncan YMCA (6350 Eldridge St., Arvada, CO 80004) in honor of Mary.
Sandra L. Vail (Lovell)
Sorry to hear about Mary's passing. Have a lot of memories about her. We went to Goodman School together and were in Blue Birds and Campfire Girls together too. Mary's mother was our leader in Blue Birds and Campfire Girls, and her grandmother lived down the street from us and I took art project lessons from her. Condolences to her family members!
Pamela A. Nelson (Koprowski)
My family moved to La Grange when I was in seventh grade in May, from a south side Chicago school. (Yea, I was a bit tough! That was survival!) My parents met with the principal of Cossitt School (Clarabelle Henson????- Correct me if this isn't correct, Margeson) who said that I should enter the last two weeks of the 7th grade class before summer vacation in order to "acclimate" and to establish some friends. Good woman. I found Mary and Mike Mettler who lived across the street from me on Stone Avenue and they were so friendly and accepting of an "interloper." Through the ensuing summer Mary and I had contests to see who could finish washing the dishes (no dishwasher for us....) and meet at my house. And we talied those wins and losses. I cannot for the life of me remember the outcomes, We also had a love for Nancy Drew books. Between Mary's collection and mine - and the library - we read those books all through the summer. Other students figure into my time at that time, but Mary was, unconditionally, a great friend who was able to help in bridging me over into a suburban culture that I was not able, at that time to completely absorb. I was a transplant from a strong blue collar neighborhood/culture to a more affluent neighborhood suburban town. I was very happy that I talked to you, Mike, after our last LT reunion meeting. Please let your family know that I hold Mary as a very kind soul and I will never forget her friendship and acceptance of someone who became another student in her grade.
Pam Nelson Koprowski
William (Bill) A. Margeson
Awful sad to hear. I always thought---and still do--that Mary was a great gal. Classy, smart and very, very nice. I liked here very much. I hope Mike is okay. And, yes, Pam...the prinicpal of Cossitt was Clarabelle Henson. She was fantastic. She ran a tight ship, as she was supposed to do. The Sturgeons were good friends of hers. I was at Biil and Nancy's wedding rehearsal dinner, as was Miss Henson. She was hysterical!! A great lady, highly intelligent. Don't ask me how I know this, but Miss Henson was great friends of the Van Dorens--as in THAT Charles Van Doren. I remember her telling me one day during the quiz scandals that whatever it was, Charles did NOT cheat! There had to be an explanatrion. She was very upset by it all. Only time I ever knew her to be wrong. Something tells me Miss Henson went to Princeton!
Elizabeth (Liz) A. Champion (O'Scanlon)
I'm numb...I didn't know. Mary and Mike were probably the first friends I ever met. (although Billy Margeson was my first boyfriend after giving me 'glow in the dark' pjs for my 4th birthday. Mike and Mary were born on my mother's birthday, January 29. (Betty-Anne Champion, LT grad). My grandma, Betty Kelly took painting lessons from Grandma Minick, and she turned out to be a gifted artist. Mom and Maggie Mettler were best friends in HS and were sorority sisters at the University of Illinois. My Dad, John Champion (who just passed Oct 1, 2016 in his 100th year) became best friends with Chuck Mettler and they worked together for years at United Airlines, and partied together for years in Maui.
Mary was always my idol. She had the cutest 3 dimples I have ever seen, and a sparkling laugh I can still hear in my mind. I learned to waterski at the Mana Kai Michigan on the lake. So many happy memories. My heart goes out to all her family., Mike, Sandy, Pam, Dick, and the others I don't know. She was a very special person, from a very extraordinary family.
William (Bill) A. Margeson
I remember those p.j.'s Annie!! Still got 'em? (You are so right about Mary. She and Mike were two of the nicest kids ever at L.T. Just lovely people.)