Nell Nunn - Ploth

Nell Nunn-Ploth of Gladstone, MO was called to her Heavenly Father March 23, 2014 at the age of 65, after a valiant fight against cancer. Her husband, Bill, and son, Kevin, were with her at the time of passing. During her iconic career in the transport industry, her name became synonymous with success and integrity. She gave so much love and passed on the same values to the many lives she touched. She was deeply loved and will be missed immeasurably by family, friends, and associates.

Nell was preceded in death by her In-laws, Irvin and Angela Ploth, and grandson Christopher Evans. Remaining behind are her husband of almost 28 years, I. William Ploth, son Kevin Ploth, daughter Rebecca (Jeff) Evans, son Eric (Stacey) Ploth and granddaughters Nichole, Jackie, and Julia. She is also survived by her father William (Muriel) Nunn, mother Marie Nunn and sisters Louise (Wayne) Lenzmeier, Anne (David) Gran and Rebecca (Tim) Tasto, and four nephews.

A Tribute to the life of Nell (Nunn) Ploth

I write this as Nell’s complete obituary, as her current one is completely inadequate in providing the honor deserved by this very special woman, deeply loved wife, life companion, and mother. What is written here covers only a smidgen of the mark she left upon this world. To include everything would require volumes.

Upon first meeting her I knew she was different from anyone else, so much that I tried to hire her away from the Union Pacific to bring her talents to the Department that I was forming at The Kansas City Southern Railway. It seemed that every time we were close to an agreement she either got a raise or promotion, so at the third occurrence, I called off negotiations. Later I became so happy with those impediments because we finally got together and married. After that my life became a dream beyond my wildest imagination, and I continued learning why she was so very special.

Prior to her work for UP, Nell demonstrated her particular talents and insight to life and the business world. She began as a flight attendant with Pan American Airlines because she was unable to find employment fitting a female with a degree, even though she graduated with honors from St. Olaf College in Minnesota, a very prestigious and tough institution. Potential employers said, (remember this was around the late sixties) “You’re a cute female, and you’re going to get married and have kids; Can you type?” About the only decently paying job in the business world for a degreed female was a stewardess, so that is where she began her career path. After about a year, she saw Pan Am was in distress and wouldn’t exist much longer, (and she was right) so she left and moved to Florida. For a while she threw papers, sold jewelry, and worked as an accountant for a real estate firm, eventually finding the chance to be what her capability and innate talent would prove to be her strengths for life. She took over a failing marina restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale, and by utilizing her people and management skills turned it around.

Eventually she was hired by the Union Pacific Marketing Department. Shortly thereafter she recognized a market that was not being addressed properly, and made recommendations on what was necessary to take full advantage of it. Because of her insight she was given responsibility for the formation of a new group, giving a completely different and new focus to business of the US Government, consisting mainly of the Department of Defense and Department of Energy. Her efforts led to astonishing results, which took UP revenues to heights never before seen or imagined possible from these two Government entities, to the point where the UP President would come to her office and ask how things were going and what new things she had on her plate. This special attention embarrassed her because she wasn’t looking for praise and didn’t want to create jealousy with her colleagues. She only believed she was doing her job. Much of her success was due mainly to her ability to develop strong and personal relationships with the new customers. They soon came to realize she had their best interests at heart as well as her Company’s. She did have one experience beyond her immediate job which was one of her treasured memories at UP. Because of her minor in the Russian language, she was invited to travel to New York with the UP President and be the interpreter upon picking up the Russian Ambassador and bring him back to UP headquarters (why, I don’t recall).

After we married, she incorporated Nunn, Yoest, Pritza and Associates as a Missouri corporation and began working out of our basement in 1986. Mr. Dan Yoest, who worked for Nell at UP, and Mr. Nick Pritza, who was a train operations person at UP, joined her endeavor, hence the Company name. Nell kept her maiden name after our marriage because of its association with what she had developed at UP. Dan went to Atlanta where he had come from, and Nick stayed in Omaha.

Even though the relationships she developed at UP helped at the beginning, growth was slow to where during the first year, Nell took no salary so the two others could survive. After the first year, revenues supported a move to legitimate offices, but only one room for each Nell and Dan initially. Subsequently, growth led into many rooms at both locations and more. At one point though, in an effort to attract a particular segment of government business, NYP purchased a fleet of trucks and leased a warehouse in Atlanta, NYP owing the bank over $1.5 million. The security for that loan was all that Nell and I owned plus more. The venture was not fruitful and the pressures of owing that much money caused Nell a stroke. However, because of her perseverance and guidance, the loan was repaid, and NYP moved forward. At the zenith of the Company, it had locations in Kansas City, Atlanta, Washington DC, and Portland with a staff of over 50 people. She cared deeply for each and every person within her Company, and when the money was available she made sure that all participated in the Company’s success to the point where their share became more important than hers. When NYP was bought out and the economy turned south, the new owners gave notice they were cutting salaries of non-management people. Nell then gave up 50% of her salary and told management to distribute that money to her employees so they wouldn’t suffer any pay cuts. When bonuses were given to top management, Nell gave her share to her employees as Christmas Bonuses. I know of no one else that thought that deeply of their employee. She always thought of them first.

What she did in business pales in comparison to her private life, where she created an even more successful home environment, devoting herself to providing a loving, nurturing and caring environment to her husband, son, and all those with whom she came in contact. Every one of our son’s friends considered her a second mother (and some their first). When they came into our home, she would kiss and hug each and every one of them, and coerce them into partaking of whatever food she had available, making dishes they all fondly remember. There were many conversations around the kitchen table. To some, she gave inspiration to pursue a higher education, even providing financial help for those in need of such assistance.

As her husband she made me happier than what I deserved. She adored her son, and made him what success he is today even though she would always attribute that to me. As to our other family members, she treated them equally. For every friend we had, she made each one feel special and one of a kind. She gave of herself and expected nothing in return. Her love was boundless and everlasting. She truly was a Godly Inspiration to all with whom she came in contact. To quote the person to whom she reported at the new company that bought out NYP: “Those who did not have the chance to know her missed the opportunity of knowing one of those rare individuals that God puts on this earth to grace our lives.”

Nell would not approve of these accolades, but since she gave me the most fantastic years of living I ever could have imagined possible, and did the same for our son, I want everyone to understand why she was so special, and will be missed by all that knew her. I don’t know how to cope with this tremendous chasm in our life, but maybe following her example of overcoming the obstacles she faced in her life, and traversing the Godly path she did will be a start as we wait for our turn to join her if we can measure up to the bar she set.

With the deepest loving memories possible of her, we are forever, Nell’s husband and son.