Max Poole

Max Poole, 93, of Des Moines, passed away on March 12, 2017. Services will be held Friday, March 17, 2017 at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA with visitation from 9 to 10 a.m. and the memorial service at 10 a.m. The family will hold a private burial ceremony in Bayard, Iowa.

Max was born June 19, 1923 in Jamaica, Iowa to Carrie Leo (Hamman) and David R. Poole. He graduated from Jamaica High School in 1940. During World War II Max served in the Army Air Corps at a bomber airbase in England. After returning home, Max graduated from Drake in 1949 and received a Master’s Degree from Drake in 1954. He married his wife, Ann (Smith), December 20, 1946. They were married for 61 years until her death in 2007.

Max dedicated his career to elementary education as a schoolteacher, coach, headmaster, and university professor. He first taught elementary school in Lewis, Iowa. In Indianola, he worked as a teacher and principal. In Des Moines, he was headmaster of Windsor Day school. Max then received his Ph. D. (1963) in school administration and elementary education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he was an associate professor from 1963 to 1970. At the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Max was chairman and professor of elementary education from 1970 to 1985. While at Eau Claire he received the university’s outstanding teacher award. After retiring from Wisconsin in 1985, Max and Ann moved to the California coast where he taught part-time at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo.

Max and Ann returned to the Midwest in 2000, where they enjoyed their lake cottage, fishing, and spending time with family, especially their three grandchildren.

Max is survived by his daughter, Suzon Ahern and her husband Charlie Ahern of Des Moines; his daughter-in-law, Jo Ann Poole of Des Moines; grandchildren, Abby Jo (Poole) Cowles and her husband Jesse Cowles, and Allison (Poole) Hinesley and her husband Matt Hinesley of Lincoln, NE and Patrick Poole Ahern of San Jose, CA; great-grandsons, Porter Max Cowles and William Beck Hinesley of Lincoln; brothers, Donald of West Des Moines and David of Hastings, Nebraska; sister, Donna Lee Hilsenhoff of Manteno, Illinois; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Poole of Centerville, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann; his son, Max Mark Poole; and his brothers, Laverne and Raymond.

Max’s family thanks the staff and volunteers at Kavanagh House hospice for their wonderful care and for being part of Max’s life. Memorial donations, instead of flowers, should be sent to HCI Foundation - Kavanagh House, 2910 Westown Parkway, Suite 200, West Des Moines, IA 50266-1332. Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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