Polk, Junior Harold

Junior Harold Polk, 84, of Coggon, passed away Tuesday, March 23, 2010, surrounded by his family, at West Village Care Center in Independence. Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 27, at United Parish Church in Coggon by Chaplain Barbara Tieszen. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Central City. Burial: Troy Mills Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, JoAnne; his children, Dennis Polk and his wife, Mary, of Sedalia, Mo., and Judy and her husband, Jerry Harding, of Fairfax, Va.; grandchildren, Jessie Polk Koeltz, Jordan Polk, Julia Harding, Jayde Harding and Jasmyne Harding; great-granddaughter, Ashlyn Jewell Koeltz; and his sisters, Louise Rowe, Betty Gericke and Pat Edgerly.

Junior was born in Quasqueton, Iowa, on Nov. 17, 1925, to Harold George Polk and Lola Mae Kile Polk. He enlisted in the United States Navy in January 1944. He gained the rank of Seaman First Class. He was honorably discharged in May 1946. He was on the USS Bismarck Sea.  The USS Bismarck Sea was the 11th and last American Aircraft Carrier lost during World War II. The Bismarck Sea was sunk on Feb. 21, 1945, by a kamikaze attack that occurred just after sunset while engaged in the Battle for Iwo Jima. Shortly after, the order was given to abandon ship. The Bismarck Sea sank with the loss of 321 men. Three destroyers and three destroyer escorts rescued survivors over the next 12 hours, between them saving a total of 605 men from her crew. Junior was very proud to have served his country.

Junior was a member of the Floyd Williamson American Legion Post 712 in Troy Mills. He farmed and worked at Universal Engineering in Cedar Rapids until his retirement in 1986. After retirement, he opened the Polk Folk Antique store in Coggon. He also loved to go to auctions with JoAnne searching for vintage buttons. He loved playing cards with his wife and sisters.

 Junior touched the lives of everyone he met. The most important thing in life to him was his family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Coggon Fire Department at P.O. Box 133, Coggon, IA 52218.

Please sign the online guest book for Junior at   under obituaries.