Pauline Marie (Kruse) Plackemeier, age 99, was called to her eternal rest on July 1 2026, at her home in Carrollton, MO.
Pauline was born on the Kruse family farm south of Norborne MO on July 13, 1926, as the youngest of five children to Chris and Ida (Biewener) Kruse. She married Harold Plackemeier on November 22, 1959, and they had two sons, Richard and Roger.
Pauline was a lifelong Carroll County resident except for the brief time she worked for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City. She also worked at the Home Savings and Loan and Citizens Bank, both in Norborne. When the family moved to the farm outside Carrollton, Pauline assisted Harold with the farming until his retirement, and when they’d had enough of flooding in the Missouri River bottoms they moved to town. She and Harold enjoyed square dancing with the Grand River Square Dance Club, she was a longtime member of the American Legion Auxiliary and a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she participated in LWML, taught VBS and arranged flowers for the altar. She also volunteered for many years at the Braille Workshop in Brunswick as well as numerous other civic clubs and organizations. Those who knew her well will likely remember her love of garage sales, and if it was a Wednesday in the summertime there was a strong chance she was in Kansas City with family or friends in search of some good deals. In the sunset years of her life, she became known as the Ice Cream Lady, buying the entire town ice cream cones on her birthday.
Pauline is survived by her sons Richard Plackemeier and his wife, Jennifer, of Kansas City, and Roger Plackemeier of St. Louis/Carrollton; and her grandsons John and Thomas Plackemeier. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her three brothers – Martin, Erhart and Elmer Kruse – and a sister, Elsie Buhrmester.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Carroll County Area YMCA or City of Norborne Parks for the park revitalization project.
There will be an informal visitation at the Wabash Junction Cottage (29586 CR 221) Sunday, July 5, 2026, from 6 – 8:00 PM. A formal visitation will be held from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Monday, July 6, 2026 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 204 North Pine Street, Norborne, Missouri 64668, a funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM followed by a graveside at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Hidden Valley Funeral Home of Carrollton, www.hiddenvalleyfunerals.com
Source: KMZU, The Farm
