Trending
July 28, 1937-Sept. 2, 2026
Minot
Edmund "John" Polniaszek, 89, Minot, ND, passed away Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at Trinity Homes.
Edmund John Polniaszek was born July 28, 1937. John's father, Peter Polnasek, was a coal miner and his mother, Matilda (Kleyps) Polnasek, was a seamstress. He was raised in the Wilkes-Barre area in Pennsylvania, spending most of his childhood in Nanticoke.
John enlisted in the United States Air Force on July 5, 1956. He was a proud Air Force veteran, working as a flying (traveling) crew chief on B-52 bombers and KC-135 refueling aircraft. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and spent time stationed throughout the Pacific, including Thailand, the Philippines, and Guam, and time in England before eventually retiring from Minot Air Force Base as a Master Sergeant. He was honorably discharged on November 30, 1982.
After retiring from the service, he worked as a mechanic at Minot Chrysler and Taxi 9000 in Minot, mostly because he enjoyed working with the people there. He also worked as a driver transporting railroad crews.
He loved hanging out with his friends at the Moose Lodge, Ace’s Lounge, and the VFW, shooting a game of pool, or listening to an old country or polka band. He wasn't much of a dancer himself, but he enjoyed buying a bucket of beer and watching others take a spin around the dance floor. He liked having family at his table and was especially proud of his famous spaghetti sauce.
His loving family includes: Stepson Kye Kundert, Mapleton, ND; grandchildren, Starr Kundert, Fargo, ND; Jett Kundert, Fargo, ND; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; and reliable friend, Dave Lang. He was preceded in death by his parents; all of his siblings, Chester, Raymond, Paul, and Marcella, all of Nanticoke, PA; Daniel of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; and Alberta of Linden, NJ.
He was also preceded in death by his cherished wife of 40 years, Mamie; subsequent companion, Ethel Padgett; and stepson, Val Kundert of Minot, ND.
He was truly the last one to hold out from his generation.
Funeral Service: Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 1:30 pm First Lutheran Church in Minot.
Visitation: Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.
Burial: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompson larson.com)
Published by The Minot Daily News, September 9, 2026.