Pauline A. Marean Obituary

Pauline “Polly” Agnes Marean, 91, died Monday, April 3, 2023. Visitation will be Thursday, April 13, 2023, from 5-7 p.m. with memory sharing at 7pm at Iles Westover Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 14, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines. Burial will follow at Glendale Cemetery. The service will be livestreamed on the Iles website. Go to IlesCares.com at 10:15 am Friday and scroll to the bottom of
Polly’s obituary to join in the service.

Polly was born in a farmhouse on October 18, 1931, in Guthrie County, Iowa, to Harold and Marcella Gittins. She loved playing six-on-six basketball but was not able to play at the state tournament with her team because she was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). She endured TB for 27 months in the hospital the first time and then two years after being released, the battle began for another 14 months. On her hospital bed, Don proposed to her, and the story is often told in their love affair, at a time when treatment for TB was still being explored, that the doctor shook his crooked finger at Don when Polly was signing out against medical advice, and said, “you will be married to an invalid.” She defeated the odds of a devastating disease and continued a life full of grace and gratitude.

She married Don Marean in August of 1954, and they shared 67 years of the most beautiful, faith-filled journey that anyone could pray for. Being married to a home builder was symbolic in many ways and the greatest symbol was the foundation of love and faith that Polly built. That foundation was strong when they endured the loss of their first son, Michael, at birth. Polly showed her love by always being a buffer in bad times, giving the warmest hugs, and never running out of things to talk about with others.

Polly was actively involved in volunteer work in the school and community as well as in the Home Builders Women’s Auxiliary where she held many positions including president. She won multiple membership spike awards, the Professional Women in Building Award, the 2007 Al Cummings Achievement Award, the 2011 Lloyd E. Clarke Leadership Award, and in 2019 Polly and Don were inducted into the Home Builders Association Hall of Fame.

Polly lived an active life raising her children, being an avid bowler, a great cook, a savvy shopper, traveling, and praying for everyone. She started showing signs of dementia in 2012 at which time, she began the long journey into Alzheimer’s. Enduring yet another disease, later coupled with cancer, Polly never lost her heart-warming smile and kind brown eyes, which will be forever stamped in our hearts.

Polly is survived by her seven children Pam (Dennis) Hall, Greg (Kris), Kevin (Cindy), Tim (Lynn), Joe (Lauralie), Monica (Bob) Gordon, and Pat (Janis), 16 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her newborn son, her parents, and five siblings.

We thank the many healthcare workers at Vibrant Home Care, Spurgeon Manor Assisted Living and Arbor Springs for their care of Polly.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Iowa.

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