Volunteer Leader: Bob Ploessl

Board Member, Community Foundation of Jackson County

• Hometown: LaMotte
• Board member since: 2019
• Career: Retired after 35 years with the City of Bellevue utilities department

Tell us about yourself! 

I’m a LaMotte native and a 1976 graduate of Marquette High School.  I’ve lived in Bellevue with my wife, Molly, for more than 40 years. We have one son, Michael, who lives in Bellevue and is very involved with the community. I can’t believe how busy you can stay being retired! I love to golf, do some hunting, and take our pontoon boat on the river. I enjoy volunteering at Bellevue Bread Basket, St. Joe’s Catholic Church, and as part of the Dream Bellevue leadership committee. I’m really thrilled about Dream Bellevue – it’s going to be a great thing. 

Why did you join the Foundation board, and what inspires you to keep serving? 

I joined with encouragement from John Hoff. I really had no idea just how much great work this Foundation does for Jackson County. I’m trying to spread that word because I think there are a lot of people who don’t know it’s there or understand how it works.  

The good we do in helping other organizations through grantmaking inspires me. Now that I understand how the Foundation works, I’m really excited about Dream Bellevue – because we’re going to be able to do the same thing on a smaller scale and help the organizations in Bellevue with annual grants. 

What’s the most memorable grant awarded or impact made by the Foundation during your tenure? 

I was a fireman for almost 20 years, so when the Foundation gave the LaMotte fire department funding for a new vehicle, that was pretty memorable. From the food backpacks for kids to many other projects, I never realized the reach of the Foundation until I got involved.