Edward “Ed” Polansky

Tuesday, December 29, 2015 2:15 pm

Edward “Ed” Polansky, 86, of Spillville, died Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, at the Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian. Mass of Christian Burial is at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 29, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville, with Father Robert Gross officiating. Organist is Doris Thompson. Soloist is Dan Silhacek. St. Wenceslaus Choir will sing “On Eagle’s Wings,” “Prayer of St. Francis,” “Silent Night,” “Going Home” and “Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee.” Lectors are Diane Ward, Carol Kout and Heather Ward. Offertory gift bearers are Diane Ward, David Polansky and Carol Kout. Eucharistic ministers are Diane, Heather and Andrew Ward.  Military rites, US Navy, are by all Decorah vets. Casket bearers are Matthew Ward, Andrew Ward, David Polansky Jr. and Marvin Soukup. Interment is at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in Spillville. Arrangements are being handled by Balik Funeral Home in Spillville.
Edward Joseph Polansky was born March 11, 1929, the son of William and Caroline (Novak) Polansky near Spillville. Ed attended country school and St. Wenceslaus Catholic School in Spillville. In 1951, Ed joined the US Navy and served during the Korean War and was discharged in 1954. Ed was united in marriage to Lorraine Flaherty June 21, 1955, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Lourdes. Together they had three children: Diane, David and Carol. Ed worked as a mechanic at Balik Implement for 30 five years. In 1985, he went to work at Gemini in Decorah and worked there until 2006. Ed had a wide variety of other things he did: He played in a band, bought and sold used (mostly Red) farm equipment, made wine, built many bluebird houses, raised mushrooms, gardening, tree farming, went to parades and polka festivals and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. Ed was a lifetime member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.
Ed is survived by his wife, Lorraine Polansky, Spillville; three children: Diane (Melvin) Ward, Ankeny; David (Irina) Polansky, Belleville, Ill.; Carol (John) Kout, Jr., Independence; grandchildren: Matthew (Alissa) Ward, Andrew and Heather Ward, David Polansky, Jr., Katrina Polansky, Alicia (Don) Imbouthathong; great-grandchildren, Landon and Macy Polansky, Emerson and Lincoln Ward, (baby twin boy and girl Ward, to be born in February), Kaia and Greyson Imbouthathong; sisters- and brothers-in-law: Catherine (Ron) Hageman, Calmar, Mike Poshusta, Ridgeway, Tom (Kay) Flaherty, Lourdes and Bob (Janet) Flaherty, Lourdes.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, William and Caroline (Novak) Polansky; mother- and father-in-law, John and Mildred Flaherty; his siblings: Helen (Mike) Sabelka, Wilma (Jerome) Cervenka, and Bill (Grace) Polansky; sister-in-law, Dorothy Poshusta.