Polly (Fenner) Johnson
May 02, 2016
- Share:
-
-
-
Service Details
Polly (Fenner) Johnson
Des Moines
Polly (Fenner) Johnson was born on October 23, 1934 in Des Moines, IA, she was 1 of 5 children born to Edwin D. Fenner and Blanch Fenner. Polly passed away on May 2, 2016 surrounded by her family.
Polly raised her 7 children on her own and helped raise her grandchildren. She worked at Babes Restaurant, she was a nanny for many years, and was also a nurse’s aide. She was never shy about voicing her opinion about current events and politics, which lead to many phone calls by her to State Senators and Representatives. Polly loved to be outdoors, gardening, reading, singing, and spending time with her family.
Polly is survived by her daughters, Paula Fenner and Sheryl Reaves; sons, Steven J. Johnson, Gary Johnson, and Richard Johnson; grandchildren, Sylvia Bright, Steven R. Johnson, Christina Reaves, Jessica Thompson, and Jennifer Peters; and many great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her sons, Gerald R. Johnson and Dennis W. Johnson.
Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Christine Reaves
04/12/2026
Aunt Paula you know that grandma died at night you were there
Christine Reaves
04/12/2026
You know what grandma they actually read the other messages that my so-called family had left they are so full of bullshit that horse poem is bullshit you ain't no fucking horse and the relationships you try to have with us for a lot deeper than they equine and their owner I have lots of questions I wish I could ask them to talk to them but grandma my mom and my sisters and my aunt Paula are on bullshit grandma did you know your mom her mother was at Eastern Star and her dad was a 33° mason your grandpa was an inventor you know he invented things and Grandma do you think is it possible that you may have took it a little bit of money and started your own porta potty business and Grandma thinking back on my mom being 15 getting pregnant with me and you leaving to Arizona why would you leave your 15 year old pregnant child behind my mom had liked me my whole life if that's even my mother they don't think she is biologically and you know I don't understand what happened to your parents there's no record of them getting syphilis and having to be institutionalized and why do I have the Arizona social security number then why didn't you ever tell me you were a witch or that my mother's a witch you know they killed my daughter your great granddaughter of course these assholes they think they're going to get away with it they probably don't even know I'm awake yet oh my life I've been pretty self-sufficient self reliant no I think I was doing pretty damn well for somebody who has autism and ADHD and PTSD I know something is being hidden remember how Gerald had psychic abilities and had premonitions all the time I had those I and then I realized I see dead people as walking breathing human alive people they don't know how to tell the difference so sometimes I guess it looks like I'm talking to myself but for my perception totally talking to a person and then on top of that I can s c r y in a mirror or anything kind of reflective in water done it with my phone I didn't even done it with an emergency blanket for Christ sakes and I can get it on video where you can see what I'm seeing pretty cool huh did you know that there is a little baby in Arizona name j a y s o n Pierce that went missing around the time I was born his their mom's boyfriend took him and gave him away while his mom was in jail for like a week or two and she got out and her kids are gone but Jason was gone and when the interview the boyfriend he took the kids to Iowa and gave them to a nice family of Quakers
Christine Reaves
12/15/2025
i think about you every day i miss you so bad and i really feel your protection I hear your voice i feel your guidance i miss your company and friendship i loved your advice and protection as a child i love you grandma i need you so much please
help me light the dark
Paula Leah Fenner
04/01/2017
This Poem that follows is the very first poem I read the morning Mother passed. It is a beautiful poem and that day it was haunting.
"My Horse's Wish"
Equine Art - Poetry Print
by Barbara Anne Dunn -
Could you bed me down
With kindness,
On the soft sweet words
Of love
Could you ride me in
Mans finest,
With hands light as
A dove
Could you teach me with
Old wisdom,
By the laws of just
And fair
Could you be my friend
Forever,
With a trust so true
And rare
Could you meet me on
The morrow,
With grasses green
And sweet
Could you free me with
Out sorrow,
On the plains of loam
And wheat
Could you say farewell
With honor,
On the day, my life
Is through
And remember me
Forever,
As I shall remember
You.
Kenny Wolf
05/09/2016
My sympathy in the passing of Aunt Polly to her family
Paula L Fenner
05/08/2016
On Mothers Day..
My mind flooded with loving memories of you,
words, dont come easy
feel sadness, and find myself speechless
over the loss of you.
We knew this day would come
And through heartache and tears
had many discussions over the years
How this is just a natural part of life
And that again;
someday we would see
each other once again.
So hand in hand,
Smile to smile
We hugged, laughing hard through tears
Celebrating our life together and sharing our fears.
I told you how very much I will always love you
And then told you again
We spoke of things that transpired in life
To find meaning, forgiveness
Resolve in the end
I searched my heart and told you
That there was nothing inside me left
That I felt I needed to ask you and
To that end
I am left, touched by the overwhelming warmth
And tenderness of your touch
The wetness of your tears
Softness of your kisses
I love you so very much
and so honored
You loved us.
Happy Mothers Day Mom.
Paula L Fenner
05/07/2016
The morning Mother passed I was looking up horse poetry; our plans were to take her a few poems and a picture I had colored for her. The first poem which pulled up was the following:
My Horses Wish by Barbara Anne Dunn (copyright 1998, 2003) I share it with you now:
My Horses Wish
Could you bed me down with kindness on the soft sweet words of love...
Could you ride me in
Man's finest,
With hands light
as a dove...
Could you teach me with
old wisdom,
By the laws of just
and fair...
Could you be my friend
forever,
With a trust so true
and rare...
Could you meet me on
the morrow,
With grasses green
and sweet...
Could you free me with
out sorrow,
On the plains of loam
and wheat...
Could you say farewell
with honor,
On the day my life
is through...
And remember me
Forever,
As I shall remember
you.
by Barbara Anne Dunn (copyright 1998, 2003)
I tremble and I am in amazement of how beautiful how well spoken these words were written; how fitting - is what Mother would have said to all of us if she could have.
We all loved Mother dearly, and she will be greatly missed. She will not be forgotten. She lives in each of us, and all of our character was impacted by having her in our lives.
How grateful, I am to have had her as my Mother.
Sheryl Reaves
05/05/2016
Mom will be greatly missed. She was ,so loving and exceptionally forgiving, even when we staryed away.She would be just as loving and accepting,as if nothing happened.Raised all 7 kids ,in the 60s and 70s. No help from her family or exhusband.She was so strong and detremined.She held us together ,sacrificed more than any should be expected of. She was raised buy aunt and uncle ,after her parents both had become ill and put in nursing homes. She was raised on a farm , loved horse's,music,westerns.She will be greatly missed , not forgotten.
Abby Grover
05/04/2016
So sorry for the loss of Grandma Polly. Much love and many prayers to your family. I'll always remember Grandma Polly's spunk and feisty personality! She was and is a wonderful woman.
Jessica Thompson
05/04/2016
Grandma I will never forget your beautiful blue eyes or your soft wrinkly skin. I always admired your feisty demeanor, great sense of humor, and your endless strength and love. I am a better person because of having you in my life. I will miss you greatly.
Love Always
Jessica