BIOGRAPHY

Plauman was born in Detroit, Michigan, USA, on 13 October 1903, to parents George Hall Bogardus (1865–1923) and Alma Kuehn (1873–1971). She had one older sister, Alma Frances Rawson (1898–1986).

In 1929, she married Roy Plauman. The couple went on to have three children: Sue Olauman, Charles Plauman, and David Plauman.

In 1935, the family moved to the Rochester area. She worked as a reporter for both the Rochester Clarion and the Utica Sentinel. She didn’t need to go out to conduct interviews, as most of the news would come to her. She would then simply rewrite it, proofread the paper, and write out advertisements.

In 2002, she moved into the Sunrise of Rochester senior living community, where she enjoyed embroidery, cross-stitching and knitting socks for soldiers. She was an active member of the Avon Township community and belonged to Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Rochester Hills.

Plauman passed away in Rochester, Michigan, USA, on 23 February 2015, at the age of 111 years, 133 days. She was survived by her son David, one daughter-in-law, eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

At the time of her passing, she was the second-oldest (known) living person in the U.S. state of Michigan, after Jeralean Talley.

Her age was verified by Stefan Maglov and Jimmy Lindberg, and validated by LongeviQuest on 12 March 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* Alma M Kuehn Bogardus – Find A Grave

* “108-year-old former Utica Sentinel reporter: ‘I’ve had a good life’” – Daily Tribune, 22 November 2011

* “Rochester woman dies at 111 years old” – The Oakland Press, 2 March 2015

GALLERY