Polly Mann

Polly Mann, age 103, died peacefully at home in San Francisco on Jan. 12, 2023. She was born Nov. 19, 1919, in Lonoke and grew up in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Polly married Walter H. Mann in December 1942, in San Francisco, where Walter was stationed prior to shipping out to the Pacific Theater. Polly worked for the next 2 years in Ecuador and Peru for the U.S. Army’s Cinchona Program. After the war Polly and Walter moved to Windom, Minnesota where Walter practiced law and Polly was active in the DFL party. Walter was appointed State District Judge in 1961 and the family moved to Marshall where Polly served in community organizations and developed her interest in peace and justice issues and for a number of years managed the bookstore at SMSU. She actively opposed the Vietnam War and went with a group of Americans to meet with the negotiators at the Paris Peace Talks in 1970. In 1980 Polly moved to Minneapolis where she co-founded Women Against Military Madness (WAMM). In 1988 she ran for the U.S. Senate as an independent with the motto “Speak Truth to Power.” A voracious reader, Polly also wrote extensively and received several awards for her peace and justice work. She loved spending time with family and friends and enjoyed flowers, fashionable clothes, art, and playing Scrabble.

Polly is preceded in death by beloved husband, Walter, to whom she was married for 61 years, daughter Melinda, and sister Barbara Whiteside.

Polly is survived by daughters Barbara Franck, Constance John (Varghese), son Michael Mann (Jane), 6 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and a nephew. In lieu of flowers Polly requested donations to WAMM or a charity of your choice.

A celebration of her life will be held at St. Joan of Arc Church, Minneapolis, Saturday, May 13. Gathering time at 10 a.m., memorial begins at 11 a.m.