Larry Lowell Plumlee

Larry Lowell Plumlee, 77, of Alma, Kansas, passed on to his heavenly reward on May 29, 2026, at his home.

Larry was born November 17, 1948, in Clinton, Missouri, the son of Phillip and Maxine (Blevens) Plumlee. He graduated from Windsor, Missouri High School in 1966.

Larry was drafted into the United States Army in 1968 and served for twenty years as a helicopter pilot. He retired in 1988 with a rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4. While at Fort Rucker, he earned an associate’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering. In October 2022, Larry attended a Vietnam Honor Flight, sponsored by the Wamego High School. He was accompanied by a student guardian to Washington D.C. to honor his service and sacrifice in Vietnam.

He was a real estate agent and broker for many years in Manhattan and served as president of the Landlords of Manhattan for five years. Larry had a life-long love of animals and raised beef cattle for ten years on a ranch near Flush, Kansas. Wanting to try something new, Larry switched to quarter horses. He raised and boarded horses for several years just west of Manhattan. Then a friend introduced him to bison, which he came to love. He raised bison for the last twenty-five years on his current ranch near Alma. Over the years he has sold “starter heard” for many ranchers from Minnesota to Kansas to Texas.

Larry was a member of the American Legion and the Mill Creek Baptist Church. Larry was a vendor at the Topeka Farmer’s Market, was an enthusiastic coin collector and enjoyed reading.

On May 30, 1969, Larry married the love of his life, Shirley Essenpries. That love grew for fifty-seven years as they shared their lives together. Shirley survives at their home.

Larry is also survived by his sons, Jeff Plumlee (Erika), St. Louis, Missouri and Scott Plumlee, Bangkok, Thailand; his two grandsons, Issac Plumlee, Chicago, Illinois and Nathan Plumlee, Minneapolis, Minnesota; His sisters, Rita Snider, Clinton, Missouri, and Linda Ross (Kenny) Lone Jack, Missouri, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

A celebration of Larry’s life will be held at 10:30 am, Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Campanella and Stewart Funeral Home in Wamego. Pastor Russ Burlew will be officiating. Inurnment will be held on a later date in Adian, Missouri. The family will greet friends from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Thursday, June 10, 2026. They suggest memorial contributions to Mill Creek Baptist Church and those may be sent in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be made at www.campanellastewart.com.