Des Moines (Polk County, IA)

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)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Frank Mills Andrews<1>
- He was born in Des Moines on January 28, 1867 (a Monday) and died in Brooklyn (NY) on September 3, 1948 (a Friday).
- Brooklyn is located in Kings County, New York.
- At the time of his death, he was 81.
- He is buried at Kensico Cemetery, which is located in Westchester County, New York.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Kensico Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Kensico Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to Kensico Cemetery
Laurel Blair Salton-Clark (Astronaut, medical doctor, flight surgeon)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Laurel Blair Salton-Clark<1>
- 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).
- Ames is located in Story County and is 29 miles [46.7 km] to the north of Des Moines (which is located in Polk County).
- At the time of her death, she was 41.
- She is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, which is located in Arlington County, Virginia.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Arlington National Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Arlington National Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to Arlington National Cemetery
Bill Daily (Actor, comedian)
- Full name: William Edward Daily, Jr.
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Bill Daily<1>
- He was born in Des Moines on August 30, 1927 (a Tuesday) and died in Santa Fe (NM) on September 4, 2018 (a Tuesday).
- Santa Fe is located in Santa Fe County, New Mexico.
- At the time of his death, he was 91.
- The body was cremated.
V.T. Hamlin (Cartoonist)
- Full name: Vincent Trout Hamlin
- He was born in Perry (IA) on May 10, 1900 (a Thursday) and died in Brooksville (FL) on June 14, 1993 (a Monday).
- Perry is located in Dallas County and is 29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest of Des Moines (which is located in Polk County).
- Brooksville is located in Hernando County, Florida.
- At the time of his death, he was 93.
- We don't have any burial details.
Thornton James 'Pookie' Hudson (Singer)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Thornton James 'Pookie' Hudson<1>
- He was born in Des Moines on June 11, 1934 (a Monday) and died in Capitol Heights (MD) on January 16, 2007 (a Tuesday).
- Capitol Heights is located in Prince George's County, Maryland.
- At the time of his death, he was 72.
- He is buried at Resurrection Cemetery, which is located in Prince George's County, Maryland.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Resurrection Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Resurrection Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to Resurrection Cemetery
Robert Dow 'Bobby' Jellison (Actor)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Robert Dow 'Bobby' Jellison<1>
- He was born in Des Moines on August 21, 1908 (a Friday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on April 21, 1980 (a Monday).
- Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of his death, he was 71.
- He is buried at Westwood Memorial Park, which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Westwood Memorial Park (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to Westwood Memorial Park
Frank Jenks (Actor, musician)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Frank Jenks<1>
- He was born in Des Moines on November 4, 1902 (a Tuesday) and died in Hollywood (CA) on May 13, 1962 (a Sunday).
- Hollywood is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of his death, he was 59.
- He is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery, which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Inglewood Park Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Inglewood Park Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to Inglewood Park Cemetery
Joey Jordison (Musician)
- Born: Nathan Jonas Jordison
- He was born in Des Moines on April 26, 1975 (a Saturday) and died on July 26, 2021 (a Monday).
- At the time of his death, he was 46.
Ruth Kobart (Actress)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Ruth Kobart<1>
- She was born in Des Moines on April 24, 1924 (a Thursday) and died in San Francisco (CA) on December 14, 2002 (a Saturday).
- San Francisco is located in San Francisco County, California.
- At the time of her death, she was 78.
- She is buried at Temple Israel Memorial Park, which is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Temple Israel Memorial Park<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Temple Israel Memorial Park (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to Temple Israel Memorial Park
Priscilla Lane (Actress, singer)
- Born: Priscilla Mullican
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Priscilla Lane<1>
- She was born in Indianola (IA) on June 12, 1915 (a Saturday) and died in Andover (MA) on April 4, 1995 (a Tuesday).
- Indianola is located in Warren County and is 16 miles [25.7 km] to the south of Des Moines (which is located in Polk County).
- Andover is located in Essex County, Massachusetts.
- At the time of her death, she was 79.
- She is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, which is located in Arlington County, Virginia.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Arlington National Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Arlington National Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to Arlington National Cemetery
Rosemary Lane (Actress)
- Born: Rosemary Lane Mullican
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Rosemary Lane<1>
- She was born in Indianola (IA) on April 4, 1913 (a Friday) and died in Woodland Hills (CA) on November 25, 1974 (a Monday).
- Indianola is located in Warren County and is 16 miles [25.7 km] to the south of Des Moines (which is located in Polk County).
- Woodland Hills is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of her death, she was 61.
- She is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
Cloris Leachman (Actress, comedian)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Cloris Leachman<1>
- She was born in Des Moines on April 30, 1926 (a Friday) and died in Encinitas (CA) on January 26, 2021 (a Tuesday).
- Encinitas is located in San Diego County, California.
- At the time of her death, she was 94.
- The body was cremated.
Hermas Walter 'Herm' McFarland (Professional baseball)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Hermas Walter 'Herm' McFarland<1>
- He was born in Des Moines on March 11, 1870 (a Friday) and died in Richmond (VA) on September 21, 1935 (a Saturday).
- Richmond is located in Richmond City, Virginia.
- At the time of his death, he was 65.
- He is buried at Riverview Cemetery, which is located in Richmond City, Virginia.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Riverview Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Riverview Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to Riverview Cemetery
Harriet Nelson (Actress, singer)
- Born: Peggy Louise Snyder
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Harriet Nelson<1>
- She was born in Des Moines on July 18, 1909 (a Sunday) and died in Laguna Beach (CA) on October 2, 1994 (a Sunday).
- Laguna Beach is located in Orange County, California.
- At the time of her death, she was 85.
- She is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills), which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Vivienne Osborne (Actress)
- Born: Vera Vivienne Spragg
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Vivienne Osborne<1>
- She was born in Des Moines on December 10, 1896 (a Thursday) and died in Malibu (CA) on June 10, 1961 (a Saturday).
- Malibu is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of her death, she was 64.
- She is buried at Valhalla Memorial Park, which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Valhalla Memorial Park (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to Valhalla Memorial Park
Harry T. Robinson (Actor)
- Full name: Harry Thomas Robinson
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Harry T. Robinson<1>
- He was born in Des Moines on June 1, 1872 (a Saturday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on September 8, 1946 (a Sunday).
- Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of his death, he was 74.
- He is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery, which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Inglewood Park Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Inglewood Park Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to Inglewood Park Cemetery
Lester Rollo Stoefen (Professional tennis)
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Lester Rollo Stoefen<1>
- He was born in Des Moines on March 30, 1911 (a Thursday) and died in La Jolla (CA) on February 8, 1970 (a Sunday).
- La Jolla is located in San Diego County, California.
- At the time of his death, he was 58.
- He is buried at El Camino Memorial Park, which is located in San Diego County, California.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for El Camino Memorial Park<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to El Camino Memorial Park (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to El Camino Memorial Park
Billy Sunday (Major League Baseball, evangelist)
- Born: William Ashley Sunday
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Billy Sunday<1>
- He was born in Ames (IA) on November 19, 1862 (a Wednesday) and died in Chicago (IL) on November 6, 1935 (a Wednesday).
- Ames is located in Story County and is 29 miles [46.7 km] to the north of Des Moines (which is located in Polk County).
- Chicago is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- At the time of his death, he was 73.
- He is buried at Forest Home Cemetery, which is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Forest Home Cemetery<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Forest Home Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to Forest Home Cemetery
John Wayne (Oscar winning actor, director, producer)
- Born: Marion Robert Morrison
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for John Wayne<1>
- He was born in Winterset (IA) on May 26, 1907 (a Sunday) and died in Newport Beach (CA) on May 11, 1979 (a Friday).
- Winterset is located in Madison County and is 27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest of Des Moines (which is located in Polk County).
- Newport Beach is located in Orange County, California.
- At the time of his death, he was 72.
- He is buried at Pacific View Memorial Park, which is located in Orange County, California.
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Pacific View Memorial Park<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Pacific View Memorial Park (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Des Moines to Pacific View Memorial Park

Footnotes ...

<1>	The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.