John (Jack) T. Plasket, III passed away on June 6, 2012 at the age of 86. He was a resident of Strathmere, NJ, formerly of Merchantville, NJ and Ocean City, NJ. He is pre-deceased by his wife of 54 years Dorothy (nee: Rugg), and his daughter Judi. He is survived by his wife Gloria Carpenter Plasket, his son Larry, his daughter Donna,
her husband David Breneman, grandchildren, Lauren and husband John, Kelli, Katelyn and Dan, great-grandchildren, Sarah and Carly. He is also survived by his extended family, the Carpenters, consisting of Gloria's 3 children and their spouses; Lynda & Ken Brown, Barbara & Dan Williams, John & Joann Carpenter, 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Jack was a veteran of WWII and Korea, having served in the Navy. After the war he went to work for Robbins Electrical Distributers and retired after 40 years as Vice-President. He was active in the industry and served as President of the New Jersey Electrical League. Jack served his community as a volunteer firefighter in the Merchantville Fire Department and served as Chief. He was also the Camden County Fire Coordinator as well as the New Jersey State Fire Coordinator and President of the New Jersey Fire Chiefs Association. His active life continued in the Masonic Fraternity. He was a 65 year member of Merchantville Lodge #119, serving as Worshipful Master in 1960. He was a dual member of Ocean City Lodge #171 and served the Grand Lodge as Grand Chaplain and as Aide to the Grand Master. He was also active in the shrine, serving as Potentate of Crescent Shrine in 1991. He is a trustee emeritus of the Shriners Hospitals, Boston Burn Unit and a member of the Royal Order of Jesters. His love of the water and boating led him to become Commodore of the Crescent Shrine Yacht Club. He continued to fuel his passion for the water as a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Ocean City, NJ and in Florida. Jack was a deeply loving and caring husband, devoted father and a friend to many. He loved his family, boating and serving his fellow man.
A viewing will be held on Sunday Evening June 10, 2012 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Godfrey's Funeral Home, 644 South Shore Road (RT 9), Palermo, NJ (609-390-9699) and on Monday June 11, 2012 from 10:00AM to 12:00 PM at Stephenson-Brown Funeral Home, 33 West Maple Ave., Merchantville, NJ (856-662-0813). Masonic Service at 11:00AM. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations to The Masonic Charity Foundation of New Jersey, 902 Jacksonville Road, Burlington, NJ 08016 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston Burn Unit, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, Fl 33607.