Steve Plants thanked for his years of service with the EPAS

Steve Plants, a long-time volunteer with the East Poweshiek Ambulance Service, enjoys visiting with a friend who stopped at the “Sundaes for Steve” event held in his honor on Sunday, June 13 in Brooklyn. Plants has volunteered with the EPAS for 45-years and says he has no plans to retire at this time. Guest attending were treated to free ice cream Sundaes and cake in Steve’s honor. “I was just amazed at how many people came,” said Plants. “A lot of them brought cards and sent texts and well wishes through Facebook. I got to see a few old members of the EPAS who attended the event.” 

J.O. Parker
 
    Doing a job for 45-years is quite a feat for anyone. Just ask Steve Plants, a life-long Brooklyn resident, BGM graduate and volunteer with the East Poweshiek Ambulance Service (EPAS).
    Plants, 64, just celebrated 45-years as a volunteer with EPAS. That is four and one-half decades of volunteer service. With an average of 300-350 calls per year, Plants has gone on more than 13,500 ambulance calls during his time as a volunteer.
    The EPAS honored Plants with a “Sundaes for Steve” event held on Sunday, June 13 at the Brooklyn Public Safety Building. Grinnell’s Dari Barn served ice cream sundaes in Steve’s honor. The local ambulance service also unveiled a new ambulance lift system at the event.
    “I was just amazed at how many people came,” said Plants. “A lot of them brought cards and sent texts and well wishes through Facebook. I got to see a few old members of the EPAS who attended the event.” 
​    Plants joined the EPAS on July 4, 1976, a year after graduating high school. 
    “My dad helped out with the ambulance service when I was in high school,” recalled Plants. “I must have gotten the bug from him.”
     At the time, the EPAS was operated out of the local funeral home in Brooklyn. The service went solo on Jan. 1, 1976.
    When asked what keeps him going, Plants said he likes helping people out because everyone needs a helping hand once awhile.
    “We all have bad luck once in a while and need help,” Plants said. “We are here to help them get to the hospital and get into appropriate care.”
    Plants is currently in charge of training staff and going on ambulance calls. He is a trained EMT.
    Plants said he has no plans to retire at this time.
    “I’m going to keep going for now,” he said. “For how long, I don’t know.”
   When not on an ambulance call, Plants works for the family-owned J&M Roofing commercial roofing business in Brooklyn. He also helps his brother farm and raise cattle.
    Plants and his wife, Pauline, have three children, Natalie, Nikki and Bryan and a host of grandchildren. The couple will celebrate 40-years of marriage in October.
    “I want to thank everybody for coming and for the support of the community and the surrounding area,” Plants said.