Pauline Specht Esslinger, 73, of Bern, Kansas, died Monday, August 15, 2005, at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka.

She was born December 9, 1931, in Pawnee City, Nebraska, the daughter of Carl E. “Ed” and Ruth Jones Specht. In 1945 the family moved to Seneca. Pauline graduated from the Seneca Public High School in 1949. She was employed at the Southwestern Bell Telephone office as an operator and at the Nemaha County Clerk’s office.

On March 5, 1961, she married Waymer Esslinger at Sabetha. They lived and farmed south of Bern.

She was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church at Bern.

She was very active in and held many offices with the Daughters of the American Revolution, Reavis-Ashley Chapter in Falls City, Nebraska. She was a Mayflower descendent and a member of the Mayflower Society. Pauline was a charter member of the Nemaha County Historical Society and the Genealogy Society, where she also held offices and published the newsletter. For many years she served on the Seneca High School Alumni Association in all the officer roles and was the present treasurer. She served on the Washington Township Election Board. Pauline was a recipient of President Bush’s “Point of Light Award.”

Survivors are her husband Waymer of the home; two sons, Mark Esslinger, McLouth, and Michael Esslinger, Seneca; a daughter, Dawn Feldkamp, Seneca; a brother, Charles Specht of Dawson, Nebraska; and 13 grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday, August 18, at the Bern Apostolic Christian Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 PM Wednesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for the Bern Apostolic Christian Church, or the Seneca High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, and sent in care of the family.