June Rose Plovie

June Rose Plovie

(1921-2023)

June Rose Plovie, 101, of Monroe, or “Juney” as she was known by those who cared for her at Wellspring Lutheran Home passed away peacefully at 12:40 p.m. Sunday May 28 of Memorial Day Weekend.  It was God’s timing to take her home during this holiday weekend that remembers those who gave their lives while serving our country.  For June was an original “Rosie the Riveter,” working at the Willow Run Bomber Plant where she assembled the tails of the B-24 Liberator while her husband George was stationed overseas during World War II.  During her lifetime, she spoke of this work with pride.  She was proud to be the wife of a Navy Seabee and proud to have built the planes that helped win the war.  This pride in serving her country led her to become a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1138 Women’s Auxiliary where she continued her service as a volunteer.

June was far from prideful though.  She lived a humble, Christian life and found excitement in spending time with her family, a quick shopping trip to Toledo, or going to Bolles Harbor to simply watch the boats go by.  Born October 9, 1921 in Monroe to Emma (Becker) and Henry Willett, she was the youngest of four girls.  Coming of age during The Great Depression, she attended St. Joseph Catholic Church and Elementary School in Monroe then completed the 9^th grade at St. Mary Academy before quitting because her family could not afford the tuition. 

But that did not deter June’s education.  She loved the news.  She had two newspapers delivered to her home:  The Detroit Free Press in the morning and The Monroe Evening News in the afternoon.  When at home she watched the 5:00, 6:00, and 11:00 p.m. newscasts.  Overall, June was enamored with popular culture:  music, television, magazines, and movies; she loved them all.  And, she always had a novel or book by her living room chair.  Throughout her life she continued to read and learn homemaking skills.  

On May 10, 1941, she married James ‘George’ Plovie whom she knew since grade school.  They were married for 69 years before George passed away in 2010.  She gave birth to her only daughter Carolyn (Ray) Bergmooser, of Carleton.  June has two grandchildren Mark and Kari Bergmooser and two great-grandchildren Presley and Emerson Bergmooser.

She loved to dote on her grandchildren.  When Mark and Kari were little, she always made sure they had the latest toy and saw all the popular movies.  June loved the movies, and she passed the thrill of “going to the show” on to her grandchildren. 

Fun-loving and ready for anything, June had a wonderful sense of humor.  June and George were perfectly devoted to each other.  They vacationed as often as they could.  They planned big vacations to cities such as New York and Chicago, having seen most of the United States.  For much of the 1960s and 1970s, nearly every weekend throughout the summer was a “three-day weekend” spent traveling up north in Michigan.  When those summer weekend trips faded as they grew older, they took many day trips throughout southern Michigan.  June was serious about greeting cards and finding the perfect one for each person on her list.  Between birthdays and holidays, nearly every month they took a day trip from one side of Michigan to the other, stopping in so many little towns looking for just the right card to make someone feel special.

June kept her faith in God close to her heart.  She attended St. Mary Catholic Church.  She supported Maryknoll, a Catholic non-profit mission movement.  She kept a collection of holy cards that she would use during prayer and regularly said the rosary.  During the last few years as her memory began to fail, she could still recite the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” prayers of faith.

Preceded in death by her husband George and sisters Henrietta Marie Goodrich, Norma Victoria Austin, and Nora Katherine Notario, she is survived by daughter Carolyn, son-in-law Ray, grandchildren Mark and Kari, and great-grandchildren Presley and Emerson.

Visitation will be Wednesday May 31 from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Rupp Funeral Home where funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m.  Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1138 Women’s Auxiliary or Promedica Hospice.

Online condolences may be sent to www.ruppfuneralhomeinc.com