Roger Pladsen

Tuesday, December 6, 2022 1:18 am

Roger W. Pladsen, 84, of Waterville, died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at his home.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Dec. 9, at 11 a.m. at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in Waterville with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Friends may greet the family from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at Martin – Grau Funeral Home in Waukon.

Roger Wallace Pladsen was born May 31, 1938, in Waterville, the son of Wallace and Ruby (Moen) Pladsen. He attended country school through 8th grade then graduated from Waukon High School in 1956. For one and a half years, Roger attended barber college in Cedar Rapids, IA, before returning to Waukon to purchase Arden Iverson’s barbershop. In July of 1960, he enlisted in the National Guard. Also in 1960, Roger married Sandra Gray; together, they had four sons.

In 1966, he purchased Quandahl Hardware, that became Pladsen Hardware, that he owned and operated for 11 years. Roger sold the hardware business and in 1977, purchased the Chevrolet dealership from Mark Mauss. The dealership was renamed R. W. Pladsen, Inc. and is still in business today. In 2002, his sons Mark and Steve bought the dealership from him, which Steve still owns and operates to this day. Roger and Sandy moved to a farm in Waterville in 1988, where they currently reside. Once they sold the business to their sons, Roger and Sandy enjoyed spending the winters in Fort Myers, Fla., where they loved the weather and liked spending time with friends.

Roger’s greatest love in life was his children and grandchildren; in 2021, he became a great-grandpa. He loved to drive around the countryside and checkup on everyone to make sure they were doing what they were supposed to be doing and doing it correctly. As his kids and grandkids would say, “Here comes the windshield farmer and security guard!”

He is survived by his wife Sandy of Waterville; three sons: Mark (Sheila) of Waukon, Matt (Jackie Steffens) of Waukon, and Steve (Michele) of Harpers Ferry; grandchildren: Christopher, Cassandra, MaKinsey, August “Gus”, Mattison, Chase, and Luke; great-grandson Walter; three brothers: Kenneth (Yvonne) Pladsen of Virginia Beach, Va., David (Mary Anne) Pladsen of Vinton, and Wallace “Gary” Pladsen of Waukon; one sister Rocella “Rosie” (Ben) Caldwell of Newton; and two sisters-in-law: Ruth Ann and Tess Pladsen. Roger was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Arlyn and Cletus Pladsen; and his oldest son Todd.

Honorary casketbearers are Herb Dehli, Dick Saddler, Rev. Keith Selberg, Bonnie Sharpless, Jerry Sommer, Tom Thompson, Ken West, and the employees at R.W. Pladsen, Roger’s grandchildren will serve as casketbearers. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com