In Memory of
Kenneth D. Plonkey
September 23, 1937 - October 11, 2016
Imperial Funeral Home
10/12/2016
Kenneth Dale Plonkey was born September 23, 1937, at Highland Park Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. He joined his Creator on October 11, 2016. His family moved to Aurora, Colorado in 1943. He graduated from Aurora High School in 1955. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado State College in Greeley in 1959, taught high school English, Speech and Drama and junior high Art from 1959 – 1962. He earned the Master of Arts degree from Southern Illinois University in 1963 and his Doctor of Philosophy from Southern Illinois University in 1968. In his later years, Ken also tutored students who wanted to be Actors via the internet and at his home.
He was a member of Central United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Loretta (Baumgarten) Plonkey and his brother Ronald Plonkey.
Ken is survived by his loving wife Rosemary (Ann), his sister Carole Hastings; his 3 children Shannon Plonkey (Cinnamon), Erik Plonkey (Corbey), Carla Miller (Michael); 2 step children Lane Hapke and Terri Parks (Rich); 9 grandchildren, Torry Plonkey (Ashley), Tonni Daley (Kevin), Tally Plonkey, Olivia Plonkey, Savannah Plonkey, Sam Plonkey, Desmond Miller, Sophia Miller, Cody Hapke (Elena), Logan Hapke (Heather), Dalton Parks and Natalie Parks; and 2 great grandchildren, Scarlett Plonkey and Colton Plonkey.
Theatre was Ken's raison d'etre. Family and other obligations limited his acting to a dozen films including Centennial, The Sacketts, and the Avenging. He performed Oscar in "The Odd Couple," Jonathon in "Arsenic and Old Lace," and Merlin in "Camelot" at the Old Town Dinner Theatre in Colorado Springs. He played Pertrucio in "Taming of the Shrew" as guest artist at Otero College, and appeared many times on the stage at the University of Southern Colorado where he was Director of Theatre from 1968 to 1996. He co-authored several plays, directed and served as Chairman of the Board of Entertainment Unlimited which he founded to purchase Iron Springs Chateau Melodrama Dinner Theatre in Manitou Springs, Colorado. He also wrote children's theatre plays and toured them in the Southern Colorado area while at USC. He directed the first dinner theatre production in Pueblo in 1969 and the first full-length play produced at the Sangre de Christo Fine Arts Center. He also wrote, produced and directed many dinner theatre productions and children's theatre tours after his retirement in 1996.
Ken was an enthusiastic cook and enjoyed going on 9 cruises, world food dinners, dining out, playing games, solving crossword and jigsaw puzzles and socializing with family all of which he shared with his wife, Ann.
Memorial Service will be held on Friday, October 21, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Central United Methodist Church, 4373 Galley Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80915
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite local theatre company.
PLONKEY, Ken (Kenneth Dale Plonkey)
Born: 9/23/1937, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
Died: 10/11/2016, Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.A.
Ken Plonkey’s westerns – actor:
The Sacketts (TV) – 1979 (miner)
The Avenging – 1982 (Warner)
Manhunt for Claude Dallas (TV) – 1986 (trapper)