Ralph T. Plowman

Ralph T. Plowman, age 88, died peacefully at his home June 21, 2016. On September 8, 1927, Ralph Plowman was born to Barton and Francis Plowman of Elderon, Wisconsin. Ralph was raised in the family hardware store. He loved to hunt and fish with his Dad growing up. Ralph served in the Navy during WWII and then returned home and attended Stevens Point University. Ralph’s early career was working for the state of Wisconsin in the then Conservation Department. He had many duties including law enforcement and fire control. Ralph worked for the Conservation Department for 17 years rising up to the status of district ranger. He was one of only 12 district rangers in the state. Ralph was very much a people person and that came into play during his years as a district ranger. He helped coordinate the state and local fire departments working together. It was while working for the state, while Ralph was scouting out a location for a new fire tower in Waushara County, that he met the love of his life, Barbara Reed. They were married in 1956 and had two children, Kirk and Kent. In 1969, Ralph and Barbara decided they wanted to settle down in Wautoma, Wisconsin and run a business. They bought a lawnmower and snowmobile store, East Side Sales. From those very humble beginnings they added boats and motors and renamed the business Plowman’s Outdoor Outfitters. Ralph always had a dream to expand the business and always loved the Minocqua area. In the fall of 1982, those dreams became a reality when they packed up and moved to Woodruff and opened Plowman’s Marine. For those who met Ralph you know he liked everyone. He would talk to you, tell you stories and had a memory for names like no one else. It is those stories we will miss. There is so much that could be written about him, his steady hand at running his business through good and bad times, his love of cars and classic movies. We are all sure that right now Ralph and Barb are going for a little ride to find a neat shop that Barb read about. Happy travels, Mom and Dad. Ralph leaves behind his sons, Kirk (Vicki) Plowman and Kent (Amy Jo) Plowman; 3 grandchildren, Shelly Kwiatkowski, Austin Plowman and Conner Plowman and of course his beloved cat, Molly. Visitation will be held from 12:00 – 2:00 PM on Sunday, June 26, 2016 at Bolger Funeral Home – Woodruff Chapel, followed by a Funeral Service at 2:00 PM. Interment with full Military Honors will be at Sunset Memorial Garden Cemetery in Arbor Vitae.

Ralph T. Plowman

September 8, 1927 - June 21, 2016