Niels Arne Ploug's Obituary
Niels Ploug, “Chef”, aged 88 of Burlingame died at Kaiser Hospital, Santa Clara on February 10, 2015. He was born on September 16, 1926 in Odense, Denmark to Hans and Johanne Ploug. As a young man the call of the sea led him to a career as chef aboard ships of the Danish Merchant Marines in occupied Denmark during World War II. After World War II he joined the Danish Navy and was stationed in Greenland, then returned to work on civilian merchant ships traveling around the world. During stops in America he fell in love with San Francisco and decided that’s where he wanted to live. Here he became a successful Chef in several restaurants and private clubs around San Francisco. Here he met and married Mary Laura (Koefoed) they settled in Burlingame and raised a family.Niels was also very involved with Boy Scout Troop 10 and enjoyed several years of backpacking with them on the rugged two week ‘Sierra Trek’. His love of the outdoors saw him, the family and friends on many camping, and hunting trips. His later years were enjoyed by cruising the seas and again revisiting many sites, and tastes, of foreign lands.He is preceded in death by wife Mary Laura and by his brothers; Jorgen, Kjeld, and Kai, as well as sisters Edel, Inge, Ellen and Lily. Surviving him are brother Max and Sister Sonja both of Denmark.Niels is also survived by his son Hans Ploug, daughter Gerda Collins and son in law Kevin Collins. As well as grandson Jonathan Collins, his wife Suzanne Collins; great-granddaughters, Emmarie and Lily and grand daughter Deborah Collins. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Boy Scouts of America, or the Oceanic Society ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wish list from one whom has not been back to Denmark. Translated by Niels) You ask: “What should, from Denmark, I bring to you” Bring to me from the white beaches, a fresh breeze. It has been a long time ago I felt the breeze. And bring me the Danish summer evening’s silent peace when the bells from the village church ring down the sun. Bring back to me the smell from the soft of the forest and the songs of the nightingale in the warm of the dusk. Bring me a glimmer of a lake, and all of the blue sea around the Belts with the small sailboats. Bring me the sounds from the babbling brook in the forest and from the birds’ twittering in the green hedges. Bring me the clear tone from the Danish lark when it is high in the blue skies over the land. Bring me the fine scent of true Danish violet. Catch me the gleam of the setting sun. Bring me the gentle shimmer of light of the forest – a blink from a star over the blue water. Bring me from Denmark on the last day of the journey, a delightful crack from the flapping of the noble old flag.
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