Anita Kay Poland

Anita Kay (Van Dyke) Poland

(February 25,1931-August 22, 2025)

Anita Kay (Van Dyke) Poland, 94, of Post Falls, ID, passed into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, August 22, 2025 in Spokane, WA.

Anita was born in Los Angeles, CA to Charles Jason Van Dyke and Violet (Tootsie) Marie (Tripp) Van Dyke. She grew up during the great depression with her two brothers, Chuck and Don (both deceased). Anita’s memories were full of hikes through Griffith Park with her best friend, Dorothy, collecting autographs at movie premieres, and fun events at Marshall High School. She met her husband, Allen Poland, during her senior year of high school through her older brother, Chuck. After marrying Allen in 1949, she became a mother to Leslie and Bryan. Years later, her third child, Kay, was born. She and Allen loved travelling, seeing new places, and making new friends.

Anita was a devoted believer in Christ and loved her hymns, Psalms, and Max Lucado books. Up until the end, she was singing praises to her savior! Both she and Allen were very involved in the Senior ministry at Dalton Gardens Church of Christ.

Family was very important to Anita, who enjoyed spending time and playing cards with her children. She had two grandchildren through her daughter, Leslie: Kristan Giddinge and Nicole Bartholomew. She also had six great-grandchildren: Dustin, Luke, Corey, and Addie (Kristan) and Hayden and Haylee (Nikki). For a year, she enjoyed the company of Geraldine Davis as a housemate. In August of 2020, Geraldine married Anita’s son, Bryan, and is now Geraldine Vialpando Poland. She was also close to the family of Cynthia Cheromiah, and considered Cynthia’s children as “grandchildren.” They, in turn, loved her like family: Joshua & Heather (Zachary, Zane, Serenity, & Blaze), Christian (Dawn & Killian), Caleb & Crystal (Juniper), Jessica & Ferris, Jade & Luis, Josey, Aidan, Avery, Alijah, Isabell, and Atheal.

Anita was an endlessly creative person, always willing to try a new artistic medium. She was especially known for her paintings – both oil and watercolor. In early 2025, she was showcased as the featured artist for the City of Hayden, ID. She was also a storyteller, choosing to make her own bedtime stories for her kids and earlier this year, finishing her first children’s book, Teddy and Whee.

Anita was preceded in death by her husband Allen Poland, daughter Leslie (Poland) McAnallen, and son-in-law Frederick (Mac) McAnallen. She is survived by son Bryan Poland (Geraldine), daughter Kay Poland, grand-daughters Kristan Giddinge (Michael) and Nikki Bartholomew (Scott) and great-grandchildren Dustin, Hayden, Haylee, Luke, Corey, and Addie.

Celebration of Life will be held September 13, 2025 at 11am at Dalton Gardens Church of Christ, 6439 N. 4th St., Coeur d’Alene.