George R. Polak

George R. Polak, of Dakota Dunes and formerly of Sioux City passed away June 30, 2025, at the age of 101.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior at the funeral home. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.

George was born in New York City on February 22, 1924, the son of David and Henriette (Boquet) Polak. He graduated with honors from Tottenville High School on Staten Island, NY, in 1941.

George enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942. While training at the Sioux City Airbase, he met his future wife, Maxine Maxon, on November 6, 1943, at the Skylon Ballroom on his first pass to town. It was love at first sight and they married May 6, 1944, in Columbia, MO, while he attended the University of Missouri for military cadet training. Besides Sioux City, George trained at Sioux Falls, SD, Biloxy, MS, White Sands, NM, and Kingman, AZ. He graduated from flight school, was commissioned and ready to depart for the Pacific with a B29 Bomber group, when the war ended. He was discharged in late 1945. He was a proud WWII Veteran.

He lived and worked in New York before returning to Sioux City, where he worked for the Jewel Tea Company, John Hancock, and retired as a letter carrier for the Post Office. During this time, he was a member of the Iowa Army National Guard, retiring after 28 years. He took a TV repair course through DeVry Institute and enjoyed his home-based part-time business.

He was active for many years in softball and baseball, both playing and coaching. He loved to sing and was active in the Siouxland Barbershop Chorus, barbershop quartets, church choirs, and Siouxland Center for Active Generations chorus.

George and Maxine were always active in church activities as 25-year members of the Grace United Church of Christ until it’s closing. They then joined Westlawn Presbyterian Church.

After retirement, George and Maxine traveled extensively visiting relatives on both coasts. They enjoyed camping and belonged to two camping groups. They also attended various barbershop quartet competitions around the country.

Together George and Maxine were active with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Paint-a-Thon, delivered Meals-on-Wheels, and volunteered at the Sgt. Floyd Welcome Center and Riverside Nutrition site.

George was a daily visitor to the Siouxland Center for Active Generations, visiting with everyone and volunteering at the front desk. He took up art, which he loved. He especially enjoyed painting pictures of his favorite places.

George is survived by four children: Sue Jones of Sioux City, IA, George Jr. and Deana Polak of Dakota Dunes, SD, Steve and Sandy Polak of Hinton, IA, and Pam Polak and Mark Williams of Breckenridge, CO, a sister, Trudy Soncrant and Bill White of Buckeye, AZ, eleven grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

Preceding him in death was his beautiful and loving wife of 68 years, Maxine in 2012, his father David Polak, mother Henriette Guffanti, stepparents Serafino Guffanti and Anna Polak and great grandson Keaton Jones.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Siouxland Center for Active Generations or Westlawn Presbyterian Church in memory of George.