Daniel D. Polich

Daniel D. Polich, age 65, of Ankeny, Iowa passed away on Friday, March 17, 2023. A celebration of life visitation for Daniel will be held Thursday, March 23, 2023, from 1 - 3 p.m. with a 2 p.m. time of sharing at Ankeny Funeral Home.

Daniel D. Polich, or Dan or Danny to us all, was born July 20, 1957, at Dallas County Hospital in Perry, Iowa, to parents Joe and Eva Polich. In 1960, the family moved south of Madrid, where Joe and Eva opened Jo Eve’s Drive-In in 1961. He loved living at the “pizza house,” having wonderful memories growing up there, and always having fun with his cousins, Kris and Candy. Danny attended Madrid elementary, having been with the class of 1975. In high school, his mother and stepfather Lynn moved to the Ames area, where Danny attended Gilbert High School.

In 1974 he decided he wanted to join the US Navy, and did just that. His military career took him across the United States to many military bases and spanned two back-to-back overseas tours, including Scotland and Italy. Danny was proud of his country and achieved the rank of E6 CTRI. He and his family moved to Elizabeth City, NC, where Danny continued his naval career at NAVSECGRUACT NORTHWEST, Chesapeake, VA retiring in November 1994.

In 2000, he moved back to Madrid and started a 20-year career with the US Postal Service in Des Moines. During this time, Danny met his wife of 20 years, Deb. They made their home in Polk City and then moved to their current home in Ankeny.

Danny loved his family and his country. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Chicago Bears fan. He had a love of 70’s music and scratch-off lottery tickets. He was a kind, good-hearted soul and always said he had the best childhood ever. Danny enjoyed driving to Madrid, the Zookspur road, Ames and Gilbert area, also called “Dan Land,” and his favorite Ledges State Park.

He is survived by his wife, Deb; son, Joe Polich (Jamie Diner); daughter, Danielle (Matthew) Murray; sister, Pam (Jim) Lewis; step-sons, Robert (Crystal) Edwards, and Willard (Jamie) Cannon; father-in-law, James Connelly; grandchildren, Eno Diner-Polich, Cheyenne Elswick, Jessica Edwards, Dallas Stanley, James Edwards, Robert Jonas Edwards, Dylan Edwards, Kara Kiesling, Edwin, and Abel Cannon; great-grandchildren, Hayden and Pippa Claybaugh, Andrew Streeter, Rayann Elswick, Onna Long, Ace and Minni Mae King, and Khloe Kiesling, along with many nieces and nephews with whom he had a special bond. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Ida "Nona" Romitti; parents; stepfather, Lynn Rathbun; brother, Joe, Jr; brothers-in-law, Stephen Paul and Capt. John Evans.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AnkenyFuneralHome.com for the Polich family.