Obituary of William J. Plein

William J. Plein, (Bill), 83, passed away peacefully on February 19, 2023, from complications related to Parkinson’s disease. Born in Long Beach, California on June 27, 1939, Bill was one of four children of Raymond Plein and Irene (Denton) Plein.

Bill was a U.S. Navy veteran. He crossed the Pacific seven times aboard the USS St. Clair County, an LST-1096, as a member of Company 56-331. He received the Good Conduct Medal for Service and Honorable Discharge in 1960. After his term of service, he attended Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado and studied aviation. He earned his private and commercial pilot’s licenses. He was married to Mary H. Wilson in 1961 and started his career with Chrysler Corporation as a territory sales distributor. Plein Realty Services was formed by Bill and Mary in Lakewood, Colorado. Many family trips were taken, and memories made at Shadow Mountain Lake in Grand Lake, Colorado with their three children, cherished friends and family.

He transitioned into the aviation industry, moving the family to Wichita, Kansas. He represented several aircraft manufacturers including Cessna, Short Brothers and Britten-Norman in aircraft sales and then Jeppesen Sanderson in Centennial, Colorado as director of marketing. He found great solace living in the beauty of the Front Range Mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado where he was a commercial broker/owner for Re/Max Alliance and was a real estate professional for forty-five years. He had a passion for lifelong learning and reading. He will be missed for his sense of humor, support, and strong will for life. His burial marker will read: Gone Flying.

Bill is survived by his three children, William Plein, (Clara); Helene Jewett, (Sean); and Jeffrey Plein, (Chikako), six grandchildren, a sister, brother, and many nieces and nephews.

Interment will be at Ft. Logan National Military Cemetery on April 21, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. and a memorial service will be held that evening at the Rocky Mountain Municipal Airport, Mt. Evans Room from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

I lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Bill Plein to the Jefferson County Library Foundation JeffCLF.org