It is with great sadness that we announce that on Thursday, September 16, 2021, Jacqueline Christine (Euteneier) Plunz passed away at the age of 78 years in Red Deer, Alberta. As a child, Jacquie’s Dad would set her on his lap when she was 3 years old, and teach her how to play chords on the piano—one finger in the left hand and two fingers in the right. She started taking formal piano lessons at the age of 3 from a neighbour a half mile down the road, and over the years went on to study with several piano teachers in Regina. At age 12 she started teaching a few students herself. Jacquie also took singing lessons in Regina, sang in the Luther College Choir, and sang with or directed various choirs at the churches she attended. She sang with the well-known (at that time) ladies’ chorus “The Hewettes” in Regina, and then with the Sweet Adelines in Saskatoon, co-directing for a season. Jacquie was also a part of a ladies’ quartet in North Battleford who made a recording; and she co-founded and sang with a ladies’ acappella trio in Cremona, and they also made a recording. Jacquie accompanied operettas, musicals, orchestras, choirs, ensembles, instrumentalists and vocalists for music festivals, adjudicated at a mini-music festival, played for funerals and weddings, did background music for various functions and events—in short, music has always played a big part in her life. Jacquie attended a one-room school on the prairies until grade 6, then a two-room school in Kronau until grade 10. Her grade eleven, twelve and first year university were taken at Luther College in Regina where she lived in residence. Jacquie took a 2-week typing course, and then worked during the summer as a clerk typist at Sask Tel. From there she went on to Sask. Teachers’ College where she acquired her temporary teaching certificate. It was while she was doing her practicum that she met Art, who was teaching at that school. Apparently he was very attracted to this tall young woman in the mauve angora sweater, pencil-line black skirt, black hose and high heels. Art’s fellow staff members dared him to ask her out; he did; she accepted; and the rest is history. Jacquie and Art both taught for the Regina Public School Board, were married in 1963, and then moved to Weyburn, SK. Jacquie was Choral Director and taught Music and English at the Junior High until 1969 when Rhonda was born. While pregnant with Rhonda, Jacquie and Art took flying lessons, and they both attained their private flying license (the first couple to do so in Saskatchewan). Night classes and summer school classes allowed Jacquie to complete her B.Ed. that same year. Art, Jacquie and Baby Rhonda moved to Uranium City in Northern SK in 1969, where Art taught in the high school and Jacquie taught private piano lessons. A year and a half later, Monica (Moni) arrived as the New Year’s Baby on Jan. 5th. The family of 4 moved to Saskatoon in 1971, so Art could enter the Dentistry Program at the U of S. Jacquie, meanwhile, taught piano lessons, took university classes towards completing her M.Ed., and had another baby. David (Dave) arrived during Year 4 of Art’s dental studies. Upon Art graduating with his Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree, the family of 5 moved to North Battleford, SK for Art to start a busy dental practice. They lived there for 17 years. During this time, Jacquie completed her M.Ed. degree and got her ATCL (Associate of the Trinity College of Music London) Performer’s music diploma. Music-related activities were not the only interests in Jacquie’s life. She enjoyed camping, and she and Dave did the “real camping” thing–tent and no hookups—for a number of seasons. She absolutely loved family holidays in the travel trailers they owned. While still living in the Battlefords, Jacquie and Art began long distance cycling. This new interest led to many great adventures on their bicycles—overnight trips through the Rockies, the ocean sides, lush forests, and flat prairies. When the last fledglings left the nest in 1994, Jacquie and Art moved from North Battleford to Sundre, AB where Art started a new dental practice from scratch, and Jacquie opened 2 music studios. In 1995, another dimension was added to their lives when they bought a ¼ section of land, leased two additional quarters, and filled them with cattle, chickens and turkeys. That’s a story for another time. Over the years, Jacquie had helped and encouraged her music students to compose their own music, to enter their music in competitions, and to attend composition classes and workshops. Her students challenged her to write her own song. She did; and this was the beginning of several volumes and recordings of her own compositions. There were anniversary songs for Art on their anniversaries for a period of over ten years; songs for each of her eleven grandchildren; wedding songs for two of her children; scripture songs for the a cappella trio she sang with; and other special music pieces for specific persons and occasions. In 2002, Jacquie and Art both retired, spending the 6 winter months of each year for the next 13 years, first in Arizona and then in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, MX. While in Mazatlán, Jacquie enjoyed playing church and concert music with a Music Professor and his two sons, and their students from their music school. They regularly played for the Spanish and English church services, and put on music recitals, Christmas and Easter programs, musicals and benefit concerts. During this time Jacquie and Art moved from Sundre to Red Deer, where they built their “dream home”. Soon realizing they were living in their dream home only half a year at a time, they downsized to a smaller home and continued to travel. Over the years they travelled to almost 30 countries, including Costa Rica, Germany, Venezuela, Colombia, Russia, Turkey, Italy and China. In June 2019 Jacquie was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of endometrial cancer. Following surgery and chemotherapy treatments, she was pronounced cancer-free. However, in 2021 the cancer had recurred and metastasized. Radiation and chemotherapy slowed the progress of the disease, and lessened the pain for a time. Her days here on earth were numbered, and she and Art wanted to make those days count by surrounding themselves with family and friends, and by re-living happy memories of places they’d been to and things they’d done. Jacquie always maintained she felt so blessed to be given this “heads-up”. She knew she’d soon be face to face with God. She placed herself in His care and trusted Him to look after her loved ones after she was gone. Consoling others, she herself was consoled by the sure confidence that she’d be seeing them again in Heaven. She wanted everyone at her funeral to wear bright, cheerful colours to emphasize the celebratory nature of this event. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 58 years, Art; her children: Rhonda Thompson; Moni Katterhagen, and Dave (Lynnsy) Plunz; her grandchildren: Shae (Cody) MacKenzie, Ty (Dallas) Blanchard, Cole Blanchard, Lexi Blanchard, Brittany Plunz, Logan Thompson, Rydyr Katterhagen, Kenzy Katterhagen, Jake-lynn Plunz, Paisley Plunz, Jameson Plunz; her great-grandchild, Madden MacKenzie; and her step-grandchild: Chad Blanchard. She was predeceased by her parents, Jacob and Clara Euteneier, and brother, Alfred Euteneier. Jacquie was born in Regina, SK., raised on a farm near Kronau, SK, and then moved to the hamlet of Kronau. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Red Deer Hospice Society.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Jacqueline Christine Plunz Thursday September 16th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Red-Deer, Province: Alberta