Jean Louise Sokolinski, 80, passed away on October 30, 2022 of age related causes. Jean was born on March 16, 1942, at Morris Hospital, to Michael Joseph & Louise Sokolinski, who both preceded her passing. She attended Immaculate Conception Grade School, St. Angeles Academy, & Morris High School, graduating in 1960. She attended Northern Illinois University and majored in geology/engineering. She married her late husband, Raymond Polka, in 1961. They divorced in 1977, and leaves behind her son, Darrell Polka (Penna), of Rockford, IL, and daughter Susanne Polka-Aceves (John), of Los Angeles, CA. Her two brothers, Thomas (Sue) of St Charles, Illinois & Michael (Alice) of Morris, Illinois also survives her. There are several surviving cousins, nieces and nephews. Also, her cousin, Barbara Frankenberry Pladers, was her best friend. Jean was a design engineer and worked for Apple Computer, CA, from 1987-1992. In 1992, she worked for a contract assignment at Boeing, for the design of the pilot warning system for their 777 jet plane. She also had a contract assignment at IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Hawthorne, New York, from 1994-1995, working with some of the finest engineers from around the world. She was recruited by DSC Communications, CA, as a direct employee and moved to Santa Rosa, CA, in 1995. DSC was purchased by Alcatel, the French Telecommunications Company in 2001, and Jean retired in 2006.

Jean lived in Northern California and enjoyed the beautiful scenery & world famous vineyards in Sonoma County. In 2006, Jean moved to Sequim, WA, & was always exploring the Olympic Mountains, hiking & going to the beautiful beaches near her home. She was bored with retirement and decided to find part-time employment as a cashier at Petco. She loved meeting people & interacting with the animals. She left Petco in 2015 at 73 years of age. Jean was always interested in learning new things, languages, exploring prehistoric ruins & history. Traveling & photography were her passions. She would jump at the opportunity to do something different or was interested in pursuing. She visited over 87 countries, including six trips to the Middle East (her favorite part of the world). Africa, Europe, South America, & Asia were all on her radar & she traveled solo to most of these places. She was at the Clinton/Yeltsin Summit Meeting in Vancouver in ’94 & did such crazy things like attending the Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary Concert in New Jersey, & even drove a Lamborghini on a racetrack. She toured the Nazca Ruins, near Macchu Pichu. At Baalbeck in Lebanon she walked in the footsteps of Anthony & Cleopatra. In Syria visited the 12th century Krak des Chevaliers castle erected by the Crusaders; flew over Mt. Everest in 2014; explored Stonehenge in 2013. One of her earlier trips in 1984, was to Russia before it was opened to travelers, it was an amazing visit. She was an avid reader of science, archeology, ancient history, biographies, & novels. When she passed, she didn't want to say: "I wish I would have". Jean did it all. 

Jean will rest in peace overlooking the mountains in Sequim. No services or memorials are planned at this time. For info on Jean’s Inurnment, please contact Sequim View Cemetery, (see link below). 1505 Sequim-Dungeness Way, Sequim WA 98382. (360) 452-6255 

https://www.peninsulafuneralh…

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