John G. Plog

John Gunther Plog, age 96, of Hockessin, Delaware, formerly of Longmont, Colorado died on Monday, January 24, 2022 at Wilmington Hospital after a brief illness. At the time of his passing, John was a resident of Rockland Place in Wilmington, Delaware in their assisted living community. The family is most grateful to the staff of Rockland Place for the dedicated and loving care they provided to John over the last nine months of his life there.

John was born in Michendorf, Germany and as a young boy emigrated to the United States with his parents John H and Hildegard Plog. They first settled in Staten Island, New York and then in Teaneck, New Jersey where John attended local public schools. John went on to attend Columbia University and graduated with a degree in engineering. John was a veteran of military service, and he was very proud of his duty in the navy during World War II.

John worked for Bendix Corp. in the 1960’s and early 1970’s as part of NASA’s manned spaceflight program in the race to the moon. His work eventually took him and his family to Littleton, Colorado in the late 1960’s. As the space program moved in other directions, John pursued his engineering career with the state of Colorado where he worked in the Air Quality Division to develop the standards that are still in use today as part of their laws governing air emissions for any company doing business inside the state jurisdiction or adjoining states. During his years working for the state, John acquired another degree in mechanical engineering and a masters degree in civil engineering from the University of Colorado. He was a registered professional engineer in the states of New York and Colorado. John retired in 1990.

John enjoyed many outdoor activities including fishing, boating, sailing, camping, and skiing. He traveled the world by land and sea with his wife Carol and at times with extended family members as well.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John H and Hildegard Plog, his wife Carol, his daughter Donna, and his brother Harry. He is survived by his daughters Deborah Leitsch (Robert) of Hockessin, Delaware and Kimberlee Loveless (Harold) of Omaha, Nebraska; five grandchildren: Christopher Leitsch (Amberlee) of Elkton, Maryland; Matthew Leitsch (Lindsay) of Newark, Delaware; Jessica Leitsch of Washington, D.C.; Jamie Souders (Keith) of Omaha, Nebraska; Jordan Loveless of Omaha, Nebraska; and four very special great grandchildren: Silas, Everett, Graham, and Evelyn.

A private graveside service will be held for John at the family plot in the George Washington Memorial Park Cemetery in Paramus, New Jersey.