Pauline 'Polly" M. Packer, 91, entered into eternal life Tuesday, July 3, 2012, at Grandview Heights in Marshalltown. Mass of Christian burial be Saturday, July 7, 2012, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church. There will be no visitation. Private interment will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to St. Mary's Catholic Church, 9 W. Linn St., Marshalltown. Estel Perrin Avey Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.vogelfuneralhomes.com
Polly was born Sept. 9, 1920, in Euphrata, Wash., the daughter of Robert and Christine Richardson. She was raised in Washington State and graduated from nursing school 1941 as a registered nurse. Polly entered service in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps in 1942 as a nurse. She served in the Pacific theatre to include New Guinea and Australia. She served until 1949 and was honorably discharged at the rank of Lieutenant j.g.
In 1948, Polly was married to Charles Packer at Port Hueneme, Calif. Polly travelled the world with Charles while he was employed with International Harvester Company. Polly and Charles made their home in Marshalltown in 1955. Together they farmed the Charles Packer family farm west of Marshalltown until 2002. She also worked as a surgical nurse at Marshalltown Area Community Hospital until retiring from nursing in the early 1980's.
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Polly enjoyed farm life, gardening and flower arranging. She was a member St. Mary's Catholic Church, Iowa Arboretum, Marshalltown Garden Club, Landscape Design Association, Burr Oak Club, Souvenir Bridge Club and Mid-Iowa Antique Power Association. She enjoyed judging flower shows and teaching horticulture. Polly's greatest love was her husband Charles.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Ruth Hern and her husband, Charles.
She is survived by her brother, Richard Richardson, of Longview, Wash.; brother-in-law Allan (Sandy) Packer, of Marshalltown; nephews: Tim (Dorrene) Hern, of Newport, Minn., Paul (Julianne) Packer, of Marshalltown, Rev. Dr. Charles Packer, of Rockwood, Mich.; niece Joan Wells, of Arizona, and several grand-nieces.