Howard Poll

Howard Benjamin Poll, age 91, was taken to be with his Lord in heaven, on Sunday, August 25, 2024.

Howard was born and raised in Holland to the late Benjamin and Alice Poll. He was baptized at First Reformed Church in Holland. As a lifelong active member, he faithfully served as both Deacon and Elder. He was one of six siblings, and is survived by his sisters, Arlene (late Charles) Knooihuizen, Judy (Larry) Kolb; Marilyn (Charles) Hiemstra; brother in-law Michael (late Louise) Kennedy. Howard was predeceased by his sisters, Dorothy (Poll) Kraai, Shirley (Poll) McCarty Franklin; brother, Donnie Poll; grandson Benjamin Scott Poll; and sister-in-law, Joanne (late Max) Kennedy Lovejoy.

Graduating from Holland High School, Howard loved his math classes, and enjoyed running track for the high school track team. He attended Michigan State University focused on mechanical engineering. He was also enrolled in the ROTC Air Force, a program that prepares cadets for commissioning as officers in the Air Force.

Howard met his wife, Carole Jeanne Kennedy, in East Lansing, after the MSU vs Notre Dame football game (side note - MSU won 35-0). Howard pulled up in his car at the stoplight next to Jeanne’s car and yelled over, “do you want to go to the movie with me tonight?” of which she replied, “I’m going to Youth Group at Westminster Presbyterian.” When she came out of church that evening, she was surprised to see Howie sitting on the steps waiting for her…. and this is where their story begins. They would have celebrated 72 years of marriage on August 29, 2024.

Howard and Jeanne raised five children — Robert M. (Ivy Beth) Poll, K. Denise Poll, Sherri R. (Randy) Tarzwell, Susan J. Brunsell (Phil Brieve) and Kenneth B. Poll (Beth DeVries). They were blessed with seven grandchildren — Marci (Steve) Thielman, Erin (Scott) Tanis, Nicholas (Lauren) Tarzwell, Andrea (Justin) Katt, Eric (Jessica) Brunsell and Stacy (Chad) Somerville. They thoroughly enjoyed 11 beautiful great-grandchildren — Laura, Annie, Coleman, Briggs, Lincoln, Ellie, Brielyn, Brooklyn, Bretton, Nolan and Mila.

He started his career at Holland Transplanter Company, following his father, Benjamin Poll, into the business as a mechanical engineer. They developed the first specialized transplanters. This invention automated the planting process of vegetable seedlings into the ground, greatly easing the planting process on human labor. He was in business with his late brother-in-laws, Charles Knooihuizen and Vern Kraai. Later on in life, Howard’s two sons, Bob and Ken, both joined the business. Howard held two patents on various transplanters.

Howard had a love for airplanes and enjoyed owning his own Beechcraft airplane, giving rides to friends and family. He acquired his instrument rating, a qualification that allowed him to fly under instrument flight rules, early in his flying days. He enjoyed flying his children back and forth to college as opposed to driving in a car.

He loved bowling and enjoyed 30 years on bowling leagues with the same friends, sponsoring the Holland Transplanter bowling team. Howard was shy of a perfect game, bowling 279 — 9 strikes and 1 spare. Tulip Time was special to Howard. He developed and built a special transplanter to plant tulip bulbs along the curbs of downtown Holland for the annual Tulip Time Festival. He also built a second machine to extract the bulbs out of the ground every year. His machines were also used at Windmill Island Gardens, home of the 251-year old, and only authentic working windmill in the United States, that came from the Netherlands. An estimated 80,000 bulbs are planted yearly in Holland.

Not a season went by without Howard wearing the ‘green-and-white’ swag while watching and rooting for his favorite team …. the Michigan State Spartans. He loved MSU football and basketball.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 8 from 1pm to 4pm at the Dykstra Funeral Home, Mulder Chapel, 188 West 32nd Street in Holland.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking to consider:

Harbor House Ministries, 919 44th Street, SW Jenison, MI 49428 - harborhouseministries.org

Flight Path - Hangar - 1581 Washington Ave. Holland, MI 49423 - miflightpath.org