Obituary: James Owen Plough

As received from Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Service:

James Owen “Jamie” Plough died on June 19th 2024, at home in Milwaukee, at the age of 77, from natural causes. He grew up in Houghton, MI, son of Robert and Elma Plough, and graduated from Houghton High School in 1965. Varsity basketball was his go-to sport, and often after a game, he was known to toast and devour an entire loaf of bread, and then call it a night. Jim served in the Air Force for the next five years as a jet engine mechanic, at a base in Thailand. He saw firsthand the horrors of war through the eyes of fighter pilots flying missions into Vietnam. That trauma ran deep. Later, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Visual Arts from the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. He was an artist at heart, and his creativity and artistry were apparent on many levels… from creating a work of art on a blank canvas, to being a self-taught guitar player with an enviable collection of guitars, to having the mechanical skills to fix just about anything. As a jack of all trades, he worked as a mechanic, carpenter, counselor, and artist. He loved to have long, philosophical talks that could go on for hours, and loved to laugh endlessly at silly Finnish jokes and stories. Jim was a kind-hearted, gentle soul, full of compassion and generosity. A special place in his heart was reserved for his longtime, loyal companion, Nanook, a beautiful, white, blue-eyed Samoyed.

Jim is survived by: Two sisters – Karen (Dan) Salo and Patricia (Ken) Herrild, four nieces and their families, numerous cousins, and several special people who were part of his life’s journey – Tim Williams, Mary Alexis Pfutzenreuter, and Henning Boeddicker. A private burial will be held in the fall.

To view Jamie’s obituary or to send condolences online, please visit www.memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.