WATERTOWN — Daniel W. Polly, 88, of Watertown, passed away Thursday, January 18, 2018, at Prairie Lakes Hospital.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, January, 24, at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown with Reverend Phil Glanzer officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown and will continue on Wednesday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery at Watertown. Casket Bearers will be, Errol Glanzer, Marv Spomer, Dean Riley, Mike Stromberg, Steve Kjellsen, and Bruce Hult. Honorary Casket Bearers will be, Donna Howard, Tammy Rogness, Prairie Lakes Cardiac Rehab staff and rehab friends, Dr. Clark Likness and his Care Team, and the many deeply caring health care professionals who touched Dad’s life.
Daniel Webster Polly was born June 23, 1929, to Leonard E. and Alice A. (Snyder) Polly in Beadle County. He graduated from Huron High School in 1947. Dan was a proud and active serviceman in the United States Air Force from January 1947 to January 1950. He was based in Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and California as a mechanic and crew chief on B-17s.
Dan married Wanda Jean Glanzer February 11, 1951, in Huron. They shared 50 great years until her passing in 2001.
Dan was a Manufacturers Sales Representative for forty-two years, peddling life’s essentials: milk, coffee and furniture. His career began driving gravel highways selling Fairmont Dairy products to mom and pop stores in small towns and crossroads from Huron to Pierre. In 1958, the family moved to Watertown where he sold Folgers Coffee to grocery stores throughout northeast South Dakota. In 1963, Dan started a thirty-two year career selling Broyhill Furniture to stores in the neighboring six states. He was the classic road warrior salesman, always knowing his product, his customer, their needs and how he could help.
He was a lifetime member of the Elks Club, member of the Quarterback Club and a supporter of Watertown athletics. He followed the NBA and NFL and lamented the fortunes of his T-Wolves and “Vi-Queens”.
Dan was skilled in fixing and building things and enjoyed gardening, reading and riding his John Deere while tending to his spotless lawn. He was a great lover of boating and being with kids and friends in and on the water, teaching scores of children and adults to ski and enjoy the sense of achievement that it provided.
Dan had a terrific gift for relating to people. He was always striving to make someone smile, or better yet laugh, whenever he saw them—a dear friend, a family member, a new client, the servers at lunch or the staff at the hospital. He always had a ready quip, a one-liner or a twist of phrase to share and delight.
His happiest times were spent with family and friends, hosting reunions at the lake, cooking South Dakota State Championship Chili (winners three years running) with buddies, sharing a meal at Foxy’s, Willie’s or the Elks or swapping stories at Prairie Lakes rehab—talking smart, telling a story or sharing a joke. One of his greatest joys was engaging in the activities, shenanigans and lives of his children, three generations of nieces and nephews, his “adopted in love” grandchildren, and his friends.
Simply put, Dan/Dad was always there for all of us. Ready to talk about the ball game, work issues, health concerns, travel advice, boat repairs, home improvement ideas, politics or just the weather. Thoughtful, concerned, caring, insightful. Prepared to listen, think, share, and guide.
He will still be there for all of us, we will just need to listen a bit more carefully.
He will be forever loved by his children, Waneen Polly of Watertown, Jerry (Dian) Polly of Oregon, Wisc., and Katri Tahvanainen (Markus) Naef of Ittigen, Switzerland; his “adopted in love” grandchildren, Becky Kjellsen (Tony) Rients, Alex (Kelsey) Kjellsen, Cedric Witkowski; Pekka (Karin) and Thomas Naef; his sister, Karen Hofer of Champlin, Minn.; special sisters-in-law, Rozella Glanzer and Norma Glanzer of Huron; and three generations of cherished nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by Wanda, his wife; sisters, Rickie Boone and Dorothy and Art Marty; brother Don and Nita Polly; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Alma and Ernie Glanzer, Elard and Katie Glanzer, Jennie and Arnie Schmidt and Wilson Glanzer.
Memorials can be made to the purpose of your choice or to the Prairie Lakes Foundation for the Cardiac Rehab Program, Make-a-Wish, or the Democratic National Committee (wink-wink).
Arrangements by Wight and Comes Funeral Chapel.
Visit www.wightandcomes.com
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