Notable Births & Deaths for Des Moines ...

Below is our list of notable people who were born, died or were buried in the area surrounding Des Moines. Please note that while we are collecting data on an ongoing basis, it's a big task and it's unlikely that our list will ever be more than a sample.

• Frank Mills Andrews
  • Architect. He was born in Des Moines on January 28, 1867 (a Monday) and died in Brooklyn (NY) on September 3, 1948 (a Friday) at the age of 81. He is buried at Kensico Cemetery (Westchester County, New York).
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Frank Mills Andrews<1>
• Laurel Blair Salton-Clark
  • Astronaut, medical doctor, flight surgeon. She was born in Ames (IA) on March 10, 1961 (a Friday) and died in Over Texas, killed when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry on February 1, 2003 (a Saturday) at the age of 41. She is buried at Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington County, Virginia).
  • Ames is located 29 miles [46.7 km] to the north of Des Moines.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Laurel Blair Salton-Clark<1>
• Bill Daily
  • Full name: William Edward Daily, Jr.
  • Actor, comedian. He was born in Des Moines on August 30, 1927 (a Tueday) and died in Santa Fe (NM) on September 4, 2018 (a Tueday) at the age of 91. The body was cremated.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Bill Daily<1>
• V.T. Hamlin
  • Full name: Vincent Trout Hamlin
  • Cartoonist. He was born in Perry (IA) on May 10, 1900 (a Thursday) and died in Brooksville (FL) on June 14, 1993 (a Monday) at the age of 93. We don't have any burial details.
  • Perry is located 29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest of Des Moines.
• Thornton James 'Pookie' Hudson
  • Singer. He was born in Des Moines on June 11, 1934 (a Monday) and died in Capitol Heights (MD) on January 16, 2007 (a Tueday) at the age of 72. He is buried at Resurrection Cemetery (Prince George's County, Maryland).
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Thornton James 'Pookie' Hudson<1>
• Frank Jenks
  • Actor, musician. He was born in Des Moines on November 4, 1902 (a Tueday) and died in Hollywood (CA) on May 13, 1962 (a Sunday) at the age of 59. He is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery (Los Angeles County, California).
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Frank Jenks<1>
• Joey Jordison
  • Born: Nathan Jonas Jordison
  • Musician. He was born in Des Moines on April 26, 1975 (a Saturday) and died on July 26, 2021 (a Monday) at the age of 46.
• Ruth Kobart
  • Actress. She was born in Des Moines on April 24, 1924 (a Thursday) and died in San Francisco (CA) on December 14, 2002 (a Saturday) at the age of 78. She is buried at Temple Israel Memorial Park (Hennepin County, Minnesota).
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Ruth Kobart<1>
• Cloris Leachman
  • Actress, comedian. She was born in Des Moines on April 30, 1926 (a Friday) and died in Encinitas (CA) on January 26, 2021 (a Tueday) at the age of 94. The body was cremated.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Cloris Leachman<1>
• Hermas Walter 'Herm' McFarland
  • Professional baseball. He was born in Des Moines on March 11, 1870 (a Friday) and died in Richmond (VA) on September 21, 1935 (a Saturday) at the age of 65. He is buried at Riverview Cemetery (Richmond City, Virginia).
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Hermas Walter 'Herm' McFarland<1>
• Harry T. Robinson
  • Actor. He was born in Des Moines on June 1, 1872 (a Saturday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on September 8, 1946 (a Sunday) at the age of 74. He is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery (Los Angeles County, California).
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Harry T. Robinson<1>
• Billy Sunday
  • Major League Baseball. He was born in Ames (IA) on November 19, 1862 (a Wednesday) and died in Chicago (IL) on November 6, 1935 (a Wednesday) at the age of 73. He is buried at Forest Home Cemetery (Cook County, Illinois).
  • Ames is located 29 miles [46.7 km] to the north of Des Moines.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: Billy Sunday<1>
• John Wayne
  • Born: Marion Morrison
  • Oscar winning actor. He was born in Winterset (IA) on May 26, 1907 (a Sunday) and died in Newport Beach (CA) on May 11, 1979 (a Friday) at the age of 72. He is buried at Pacific View Memorial Park (Orange County, California).
  • Winterset is located 27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest of Des Moines.
  • Find-A-Grave Memorial: John Wayne<1>

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for Des Moines: www.dmgov.org/

The official website for Polk County: www.co.polk.ia.us/

The official website for State of Iowa: https://www.iowa.gov/