Lois Pauline “Polly” Engstrom, 91, of Alpha, Ill., passed away Monday, Oct. 29, at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, Ill.

Services are at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Grace Lutheran Church in Ophiem, Ill. Burial will follow at Alpha Cemetery. Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Peterson Wallin Knox Funeral Home in Alpha.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to AlWood Elementary School Library, Oxford American Legion Post 1197 Auxiliary or Tri-County Ambulance Service.  Online condolences may be made at www.petersonwallinknox.com.

She was born Oct. 5, 1927 in McMinnville, to Samuel and Alice Walker Craig. She attended McMinnville schools and graduated in April 1944 from Belmont Beauty School in Nashville. Polly married John G. Engstrom on Feb. 8, 1945 in Galesburg, Ill. He died Sept. 20, 2009.

Polly was a beautician for over 37 years, beginning her career in Nashville, and owned and operated Polly’s Beauty Shop in Alpha.  She also assisted her husband in farming. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Oxford American Legion Post 1197 Auxiliary, and volunteered at the AlWood Food Pantry. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, shopping and especially being with her family and friends.

Survivors include one son Ronald (Cindy) Engstrom of Athens, Ill.; two daughters Jeanine (Jim) McGaughy of Orion, Ill; Kimberly Engstrom of Bloomington, Ill., and her special friend, Jeff Newman of Woodhull, Ill.; four grandchildren Bruce (Rita) McGaughy of Mercer Island, Wash.; Michelle (GW) Fuhr of St. Charles, Ill.; Jenny (Kurt) Behrent of Pawnee, Ill.; Diana Engstrom of Chicago, Ill.; 11 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; one sister Betty Burch of McMinnville; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandson Todd Engstrom; and two sisters Audrey Pendergraph and Ora Mae Johnson.

Southern Standard

(McMinnville, Tenn.) Oct. 31, 2018