John Polok

John’s life began on September 26, 1935, outside of Hope, Kansas on the farm located at the southeast corner of Oat Road and 500 Avenue.  He was the son of Valentine “Wally” and Emma Magdalen (Schumer) Polok.  All of John’s siblings were born in that home. The family moved to the current homestead on 400 Avenue when John was four years old.  He attended Tennessee School in the country and later attended Hope High School, graduating in the Class of 1953.  He was a member of the FFA in high school.  After graduation, John farmed, helped other farmers, and veterinarian Dr. Stanley who needed an extra hand, put-up grain bins, and worked at the natural gas pumping station.

 John was drafted into the United States Army on February 20, 1958, and did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.  He was assigned to Company A, 3d Battalion, 3d Training Regiment. After Fort Leonard Wood, John was off to Fort Knox, KY for parachute school and completed 20 jumps.  He was assigned to Company E, 1^st Airborne Battle Group, 502^nd Infantry.  He also served at Fort Ord, CA and Fort Campbell, KY.  He was discharged in 1959 just as General Westmorland was activating his unit to deploy to Vietnam.   After being honorably discharged from the service, John returned home to help on the farm raising wheat, corn, milo, cattle, and hogs. In his later years, he turned his attention to raising guinea fowl to combat the bugs. John always said he was born a hired hand, and he would die a hired hand. He still helping his son Neil on the farm until a week before his 88^th birthday.

 John was united in marriage to Anna Pauline Montgomery on September 18, 1971, at the Church of the Magdalen in Wichita.  He was a member of St. Phillip Church in Hope.  John served on the parish council and on the board of directors of Farmer’s CO-OP (now Agri Trails CO-OP).   John and Pauline travelled to Hawaii for Farmland’s 50^th anniversary convention, and it was the honeymoon they never had.  John was the Hope Township Treasurer from 2005 to 2017.

 Most important of all, John was a hardworking faithful family man who is survived by his wife Pauline of Hope, son Neil (Kylee) Polok of Hope, and daughter Regina Polok of Fairway, KS, grandchildren Sophie, Ava, and Macy of Hope, sister-in-law Vivian Montgomery of Wichita and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.  John passed away at his home on Saturday November 4, 2023.  He is preceded in death by his parents, siblings Clarence Polok (Shirley and Maxine), Theresa Klenda (Leonard), Margaret Gable (Art), and Vince Polok (Irene and Pat).

 His family will gather with friends on Thursday November 9, 2023, at 6 p.m. for Rosary prayers at the St. Phillip Catholic Hall in Hope.  Visitation will follow in the hall from 6:30- 8 p.m.  John’s funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday November 10, 2023, at St. Phillip Catholic Church in Hope at 10 a.m.  He will be laid to rest in St. Phillip Catholic Cemetery following the Mass.  Yazel Megli Funeral Home, Herington is serving the family.  Memorial contributions in John’s name may be directed to the St. Phillip Cemetery Fund or Dickinson County Home Health and Hospice.  Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of John at www.yazelmeglifh.com.