Brownsville, VT – Dušan “John” Plausteiner, 92, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, July 13, 2026.
John was born on October 31, 1933, in Maribor, Yugoslavia, a son of Ivan and Jana (Paternost) Plausteiner, formerly Plauštajner. He grew up there during the difficult years that followed and later attended school in Stainz, Austria.
Following World War II, John and his parents were displaced before being sponsored by a family in Meriden, Connecticut. It was there that he met the love of his life, Lucille DeWolf, who, whilst courting, affectionately described him by writing, “there never was a man so full of life . . . (nor) a greater person.” They were married on June 22, 1957, in Meriden, where they made their home before moving to Vermont.
An avid outdoorsman, John had a lifelong love of the mountains, where he always felt closest to God. As an accomplished rock and ice climber, he became an active member of the Adirondack High Peaks Rescue and conquered all 46 iconic summits. His passion for skiing and climbing led him to a position at Mount Snow, where he worked for 18 years, beginning as a ski patroller, advancing into management, and ultimately joining the company’s Board of Directors. He later accepted a position with the State of New York in Lake Placid as Manager of Whiteface Mountain, where he supervised the development of trails, ski lifts, and snowmaking for the 1980 Winter Olympics. In 1993, John and his family moved to Brownsville and took over operations at the Ascutney Mountain Ski Resort. During the next 17 years, John masterminded many improvements and innovations at the resort before retiring to travel across the USA with his beloved wife. John remained active throughout his life, still skiing with Lu at the age of 92.
John embodied the axiom to “love your neighbor,” greeting everyone with a warm welcome, an interesting fact, and a strong handshake or hug! He was a lifelong learner, becoming a true Renaissance man through daily self-study, creativity, and ever-present curiosity. He was an incredible friend and a truly beloved patriarch who believed in hard work, the importance of family, and the power of community. One way he lived out this belief was through his active involvement in the Big Brother program, where he enjoyed mentoring local youth.
John is preceded in death by his brother, Bronko Plauštajner.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Lucille Plausteiner; two sons, Steve Plausteiner and his wife, Susan, of Rangeley, Maine, and Timothy Plausteiner and his wife, Tammy, of Brownsville; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 24, 2026, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Windsor. Knight Funeral Home in Windsor has been entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the West Windsor Volunteer Fast Squad, P.O. Box 473, Brownsville, VT 05037.
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