Melvin E. Ploeger, age 90, of Ida Grove, Iowa, passed away August 7, 2026, at the Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, August 17, 2026, at the First Presbyterian Church of Schaller, Iowa. Rev. Kevin J. Freese will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Immanuel Reformed Cemetery of Schaller, Iowa, with Military Rites conducted by the U.S. Army Funeral Honor Guard.
A Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, August 16, 2026, at the First Presbyterian Church of Schaller, Iowa.
The Christensen–Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com.
Melvin Edward Ploeger, the son of Edward and Nley (Howe) Ploeger, was born on June 2, 1936, at the farm home in rural Alta, Iowa. Melvin was raised on a farm until the age of 15 when he moved to Schaller, Iowa. He attended Maple Valley Grade School, Hayes Junior High School, and graduated from Schaller High School in 1953. After working on several farms and Dlugosch Motors in Storm Lake, he enlisted in the Regular Army in 1954 where he remained until 1974.
His career of 20 years took him to many state-side locations and overseas tours: Fort Bliss Texas,
Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, Fort Polk, Louisiana, Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Ord, California, Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and other locations. Melvin spent his entire career in the Infantry. He was a drill sergeant training recruits, instructing in military academies, instructing in drill sergeant schools, and a leader in many regular Army Infantry Units stationed in Germany, Korea, twice in Vietnam in 1966 and 1969 to 1970. He ended his career with two years at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii as an Infantry First Sergeant and Infantry Sergeant Major. During this time in the active regular army, he served as a rifleman, machine gunner, mortar gunner, 106 recoilless rifle gunner, and Section Sergeant, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant and Sergeant Major. He was a military instructor in all infantry subjects. He was an instructor in Methods of Instruction in several military academies.
First Sergeant Ploeger’s military awards and decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, two
Awards of the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, four awards of the Army
Commendation Medal, six awards of the Good Conduct Medal, European Occupation Medal,
National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with five campaign stars, Vietnam Campaign
Medal with 60 Device, two awards of the Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation with Palm, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and many Letters of Appreciation and Commendation.
During his time in the military, as Mel put it, he took the time to do the important things in life and married Dorothy (Stille) Ploeger in 1958. She spent many long hours, days, weeks, months, and years raising four children when Melvin was away. In 1974, he retired from the military and returned home to his family in Schaller, Iowa.
After returning to civilian life, Mel worked in various occupations. He served as a police officer for the City of Schaller before beginning a career in automobile sales with Rasmussen Ford in Storm Lake. Later, Mel became a bus driver for the Storm Lake Community School District, where he remained until his retirement.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Dorothy of Ida Grove, IA; his children Diana (Scott) Myrtue of Schaller, IA, Jean (Mark) Burns of Ida Grove, IA and Edward (Joleen) Ploeger of Fenton, MO; son-in-law Randy Wolf of Nampa, ID; brother Duane (Karen) Ploeger of Storm Lake, IA; sister Donna Jeanne (Darold) Lindstrom of Ida Grove, IA; sisters-in-law Darlene Wells of Denison, IA and Nancy Ploeger of Schaller, IA; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a great-great granddaughter; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Nley Ploeger; daughter Cynthia Wolf; sisters Virginia (Donald) Burhop and Janette (Ronald) Willer; brothers Robert Ploeger and Warren Ploeger.
Melvin wants to be remembered as a man who loved his wife, loved his family, loved his children, loved his country, and fought physically and mentally for all four.
