Lynn Pollock

Lynn Edward Pollock, age 91, of Cherokee, Oklahoma, died Wednesday, October 13, 2021, in Haysville, Kansas.

Lynn was born June 21, 1930, in the village of Driftwood, Oklahoma, to Harry and Myrtle (Glynn) Pollock. Growing up with his three older sisters on a farm in Ingersoll, Lynn learned and developed the core principles of discipline, respect, honesty, perseverance and the value of a strong familial bond.

He graduated from Cherokee High School in 1949 and accepted a scholarship to play quarterback at the then named Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg. Following the fall semester of his sophomore year, six months after the start of the Korean War, he enlisted in the US Navy. As a cadet stationed in San Diego, he was soon made aware of a small specialized unit of sailors known as the “Frogmen.” The Underwater Demolition Team, predecessors to the Navy SEALs, was an elite group of amphibious commandos established during WWII. To be a Frogman it was necessary to pass a brutal 10-week Basic Conditioning course, a perpetual series of physical and psychological endurance events specifically designed to diminish the volunteer’s spirit to the point of quitting. His tenacious determination prevailed as he was one of only sixteen who were able to complete the training. He was a twice decorated member of UDT-3, and served overseas in the Korean peninsula for over two years. He then returned to Pittsburg, once again as quarterback. After his honorable discharge in 1954 he graduated with a BA in mathematics.
On August 11,1954, he married Jonnie Ruth Polston, who then become the loving mother of his son and daughter. They were married for 36 years. During those years, Lynn established a private construction company in Independence, Missouri, that specialized in raising and finishing impeccably “built to last” single family homes, duplexes and an array of multi-family apartment/condominium complexes throughout Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. Foremost among his many remarkable qualities was his uncompromising integrity. Honest (to a fault sometimes), trustworthy, reliable, hardworking and helpful, he was steadfastly from the “any job worth doing, is worth doing right” school and he expected the same from his crew. He retired in 1990.
On September 20, 1991, he married Patsy Valentine. They resided happily for some years in Woodward, Oklahoma. He and Patsy were members of St. Peter’s Catholic Church where he served as one of the Knights of Columbus. Patsy died in 1999 and he returned to Cherokee to help tend to his ailing mother (Mo). Following her death in 2000, he remained in the family home that he had helped design with his father (Papa). He filled his time ardently practicing his faith (Father Bala commented that he was always the first member to arrive for Mass, waiting for the priest to arrive and unlock the doors), volunteering his carpentry skills to the church, practicing his penchant for landscaping at the cemetery, helping anyone in the community who he knew needed a hand, and diligently maintaining a daily exercise/fitness regime that would stress most humans 30 plus years his junior. He was also able to pursue his one true recreational passion by playing golf every chance he got.
Lynn is survived by his daughter, Melynda Walker; son, Stephen Pollock; goddaughter, Connie Brown-Ast (Clemens; granddaughters, Melanie Walker, Ashley Pollock-Farnsworth (Grant), Haley Pollock, and grandson, Spencer Walker (Norma Holsworth); eight great-grandchildren, and by his many beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews and their families.

Lynn was preceded in death by his parents, Jonnie Ruth Pollock, Patsy Pollock, and sisters, Margaret Johnson-Godwin, Maxine Parkhurst, and Norma Brown-Stein.

Funeral mass for Lynn will be Friday, October 22, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at St Cornelius Catholic Church in Cherokee.  Rosary will be at 9:30 a.m. before mass.  Burial will follow at Cherokee Municipal Cemetery with arrangements by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc.  www.lanmanmemorials.com  Facebook:  Lanman Funeral Home Inc.

Memorials may be given to the church through the funeral home.