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. Andrew’s Nursing Home in New Florence, where she passed.
Marolyn Elizabeth (Ploeger) Block was born Feb 20, 1927 in Holstein (Warren County) to Roy and Mabel (Hanke) Ploeger. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel UCC in Holstein. Her parents moved from Holstein to Rhineland. Marolyn graduated from Hermann High School. Before she was married, Marolyn worked at the Bank of Hermann and at the 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 Melvin 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. Melvin and Marolyn raised five children in Montgomery City. Marolyn was a stay-at-home mom, but was later employed as a teacher’s aide at the Montgomery City Grade School, where she worked from 1974-1987.
Marolyn was a member of the First United Methodist Presbyterian Church in Montgomery City since 1955. Marolyn sang in the church choir for more than 60 years and was a member of Pairs and Spares Sunday School class for over 50 years. Marolyn was in charge of the Vacation Bible School program at the church for several years.
Marolyn and Melvin always enjoyed the outdoors. They both loved to fish, and went on many fishing excursions. They also loved to play golf and were members of the Loutre Shore Country Club in Hermann and the Country Club in Montgomery City. They had a large garden for years.
Marolyn enjoyed canning fruits and vegetables for the family. Marolyn also enjoyed playing bridge and was a member of 2 different bridge clubs over the years, most recently with her best friends, Sue Scherer, Evelyn Poole (now deceased), Marjorie Oliver Miller, Betty River and Peggy Ready.
Marolyn was an accomplished baker. There aren’t many in Montgomery City who haven’t tasted her cookies, pies and cakes. When Marolyn wasn’t playing bridge or baking, she was an accomplished quilter and made many beautiful quilts over the years.
She participated in the hand-quilting projects that were ongoing at the church until her hands no longer allowed her to help. Then, she just brought cookies and enjoyed the fellowship. She was a member of the Sunshine Quilters and the Piecemakers Quilt Guilds.
She was a former member of the Lady Bug Extension Club. She also helped gather information for the Montgomery County One Room School Book. Marolyn was interested in genealogy and was very proud of their collection of old family photos and family historical information.
Marolyn Elizabeth Ploeger Block is survived by four children: Tom Block (Diane Zumwalt) of Montgomery City; Maribeth Frevert and husband Doug of Columbia; John Block and husband Steve Rulon of St. Louis; and Jim Block and wife Linda of Montgomery City. Marolyn leaves grandchildren, Kristin Henke and husband Mac of Princeton (Mercer County); Matt Frevert and wife Grace of Columbia, MO; Kate Block of Columbus, Ohio; Molly Smiley and husband Jared of Mexico (Audrain County); Macy Storts and husband Kaleb of Wellsville and Molly Rulon of St. Louis; great grandchildren, Judd, Emma and Sadie Henke of Princeton and Charlotte Frevert and Connor Thompson of Columbia; and numerous nieces and nephews in Missouri and various states across the country.
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 lived only five 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.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the First United Methodist Presbyterian Church, designated to purchase new altar clothes, or to Breakthrough T1D, a type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization in care of Schlanker Funeral Home, 207 Danville Road, Montgomery City, MO 63361.
