Dennis Pluimer

Praise the Lord and pass the leeches! That’s a phrase (and title of one of Denny’s books) that captures the essence of how Denny lived life: rooted in Christian faith with a deep love for his Creator and creation; a life lived in zeal in service of others. On August 21, 2025, Dennis Lee Pluimer passed from time to eternity next to his beloved wife of 58 years, after a hard-fought battle with anaplastic thyroid cancer.

Born November 13, 1946 in St. Cloud, MN, to Harold and Alice Pluimer, Denny grew up with a passion for the outdoors and an insatiable curiosity about the world around him—a spirit that would come to shape his life and inspire many along the way. His love for nature and the outdoors prompted him to attain a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI (1968) and a Master of Science degree in biology from South Dakota State University (1977). His thesis was titled, “Value of Farm Groves to Nesting Songbirds in Sioux County, Iowa”. This education ultimately led to a fulfilling 44-year career teaching high school sciences, first at Unity Christian High School in Orange City, IA (1968 - 1978), then at Central Minnesota Christian School in

Prinsburg, MN, from 1978 - 2012, when he retired and followed his kids and grandkids to Breezy Point, MN. Known simply as “Mr. P.” to his students, his passionate teaching style and infectious love for science and nature inspired hundreds of students to pursue careers in the sciences, and he leaves a legacy that will endure for generations. One of his favorite classes to teach was “Wildlife”, a course he created on his own, using Aldo Leopold’s “Sand County Almanac” as a textbook. Leopold was one of his heroes, and one of his life highlights was visiting his cabin and research site in Baraboo, WI this summer (background photo).

An added bonus of his teaching career (or perhaps one of the motivations?!) was that he was able to spend summers “up north” at his cabin, where he was a professional fishing guide for over 50 years. His love for teaching and science was evident to all his clients, as his boat served as a classroom and the lake a whiteboard where he would help explain the mysteries and beauty of God’s creation to all those fortunate enough to spend a day with him. They learned about the meanings of the various calls of the loon, the speed an osprey reaches as she plunges for her prey, and the importance of “catch and release” on the health of the small lakes of northern Minnesota. And yes, they even caught some fish. A LOT of fish!

As much as Denny loved the summers at the cabin, his favorite time of the year was the fall. He was an avid bird hunter and loved spending time in the fields and sloughs, chasing after roosters, grouse, and waterfowl with his family, friends and dog. He prided himself on ethical and conservational hunting practices, and he always showed a deep respect for the game in which he was blessed to hunt. Those who hunted with Denny always left the field or blind with more knowledge about wildlife than when they began the hunt, as he again extended his classroom to the field.

Denny loved his family, and the greatest joy of his life was spending time with them. From Saturday morning breakfasts with kids and grandkids, cribbage and Vikings games, spontaneous visits, hikes in the woods and early mornings in the blind or on the water, trips to the North Shore and Michigan and Wisconsin, and riding along in the golf cart with his grandkids, his love for his family was evident to all those around him. He invested heavily in his family, and he cared more about those relationships than some of the more trivial aspects of life. When his kids or grandkids would tear up the nicely mowed grass in his yard with their outdoor play, he would shrug it off, saying “I’m raising kids, not grass.” His wife Sheri was the love of his life and his closest friend, and they cherished their time together, taking long drives to see the changing leaves, sitting on the dock at their cabin, fishing on the pristine Minnesota lakes, going for long walks in the woods with their dog, and having their morning devotions together. His strong faith was evident throughout his cancer journey, as each day he and Sheri would declare together, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!”

Denny was always actively involved in church, most recently at Riverview Church in Pine River, MN, where he lived out his faith in community with fellow Christians and was an encouragement and inspiration to many. He was also very active with Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge, serving as a mentor to dozens of program clients and donating numerous guiding trips as part of their fundraising programs. He loved fishing in their annual fundraising tournament with his son, and he orchestrated a fishing day for program clients hosted by local area guides.

Denny is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Alice Pluimer, and his two siblings, Ronnie and Linda, who both died before the age of three. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Sheri; his children: Joy (Chad) Bonnema, Mike (Heather) Pluimer, and Mark (Laurie) Pluimer; his grandchildren Mike (Haley) Pluimer, Meikea (Isaac) Herrera, Maddie (Danny) Olson, Ethan Pluimer, and Esther Pluimer; his great-granddaughter, Riley Pluimer; and his sister, Mary (Les) Lively and their children and grandchildren. He also leaves behind a wonderful community of friends, former students, and fellow outdoors enthusiasts who will long remember his spirit and the light and joy he brought to their lives.

Denny was an amazing spouse, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, teacher, mentor, and friend. He touched countless lives with his infectious smile, encouraging words, and his passionate approach to enjoying each day and living life to the fullest. He will be missed greatly, but he leaves behind a tremendous legacy and is an inspiration to all those who were blessed to know him. To the very end, he lived by faith and in hope of resurrection life through his Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ. We’re eager for him to one day show us the intricacies of the new creation!