John Polking Obituary
It is with sadness that the passing of John Polking of Carroll, Iowa is shared. John passed away on June 28, 2026. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family.
John will be remembered for the time spent with loved ones and the moments that brought joy to those around him. Friends and family will honor John by reflecting on shared memories and the positive influence he had in their lives. Though John is no longer present, the bonds he created and the experiences shared will endure. John’s memory will continue to be a source of comfort for all who knew him.
He was predeceased by: his parents, Clement Polking and Anna Polking; and his siblings, Phyllis Mae Polking, James Polking, William Polking (Margaret), Paul Polking (Joan) and Joseph Polking (Lynn).
He is survived by: his wife Agnes "Stevie" Coppin-Polking. He is also survived by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as his nieces and nephews.
John was elected as a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society (AMS) in 2013, part of the inaugural class, for his contributions to harmonic analysis, operator, and spectral theory 7.
