Marolyn Elizabeth (Ploeger) Block, 97, of Montgomery City, died on September 25, 2024. Marolyn lived at home until just after her 96th birthday, at which time she moved to St. Andrews Nursing home in New Florence, where she passed.
Marolyn Elizabeth (Ploeger) Block was born Feb 20, 1927 in Holstein, MO to Roy and Mabel (Hanke) Ploeger. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel UCC in Holstein. Her parents moved from Holstein to Rhineland and Marolyn graduated from Hermann High School. Before she was married, Marolyn worked at The Bank of Hermann and at Florsheim shoe factory in Hermann.
On November 27, 1947 Marolyn married Melvin Louis Block in Rhineland at St. Marcus Church. Together they shared over 61 years together before he died at the age of 84 in 2009. In 1955, Melvin and Marolyn moved to Montgomery City for Mel’s job in the school system. Together they raised 5 children in Montgomery City. Marolyn was a stay-at-home mom, but later worked as a teacher’s aide at the Montgomery City Grade School, where she worked from1974-1987.
Marolyn Elizabeth Ploeger Block is survived by four children: Tom Block (Diane Zumwalt) of Montgomery City; Maribeth Frevert and husband Doug of Columbia, MO; John Block and husband Steve Rulon of St. Louis, MO; and Jim Block and wife Linda of Montgomery City, MO. Marolyn leaves six grandchildren: Kristin Henke and husband Mac of Princeton, MO; Matt Frevert and wife Grace of Columbia ; Kate Block of Columbus, OH; Molly Smiley and husband Jared of Mexico; Macy Storts and husband Kaleb of Wellsville and Molly Rulon of St. Louis. Marolyn also leaves 5 great grandchildren, Judd, Emma and Sadie Henke of Princeton, Charlotte Frevert and Connor Thompson of Columbia. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Marolyn was preceded in death by her parents, husband Melvin in 2009, and two sons. David Roy Block died at birth in 1952, and William Louis “Bill” Block in 1974 at the age of 24. Bill had kidney failure due to diabetes. Marolyn donated one of her kidneys to Bill in August 1973 at the University of Denver Hospital. Bill only lived 5 more months following the transplant, but Marolyn lived the rest of her healthy life with just one kidney.
Marolyn was also preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law Eileen and Albert Baumstark, respectively, brothers and sisters-in-law Nelson and Lucy Jane Block, and Roy and Celeste (Block) Meyer.
Visitation and funeral services were held at the First United Methodist-Presbyterian Church in Montgomery City. The Reverend Lynn Quist officiated the service with burial in the Montgomery City Cemetery in Montgomery City. Schlanker Funeral Home was in charge of the services.
