Pauline Osterhaus, 79, of Seneca, Kansas, died on Saturday, September 6, 1975 at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital. She had been admitted the day before with a heart condition.

She was born on October 5, 1895 in Oldenburg, Germany, to Bernard and Agnes Rottinghaus Runnebaum. The family immigrated to the United Stated when Pauline was seven years old. They settled in the St. Benedict, Kansas area, where Pauline grew up and attended a country school.

On February 11, 1920 she married Bernard J. Osterhaus at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict.

After marriage they lived south of the church in St. Benedict for a few years and later farmed 5-1/2 miles north of Seneca. They retired and moved into Seneca in the spring of 1968. The couple celebrated their 50th and 55th wedding anniversaries.

Pauline was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca and St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church.

She loved to cook, garden, can fruit, play cards, sew, embroider and crochet.

Survivors are her husband Bernard of the home in Seneca; a son, Gilbert Osterhaus of Seneca; four daughters, Lucille (Donald) Winkler and Edna Mae “Eddy” (Joe) Love, both of Seneca, Bernice (Anthony) Rettele of Centralia, and Edith (William) Kongs of Wetmore; two sisters, Mary Johanna (Henry) Olberding of Baileyville and Caroline Lena (Tim) Heiman of St. Benedict; and 26 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son Leonard on April 16, 1958; a grandson Steven Osterhaus on May 20, 1974; six sisters, Alvina Lorson, Emma Haug, Mary Elizabeth Macke, Mary Anna Roggenkamp, Augusta Runnebaum, and Mary Agnes Runnebaum; and three brothers, Frank, Herman and Bernard Runnebaum.

Rosaries were prayed on Sunday and Monday evenings, September 7 & 8, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Tuesday, September 9, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca by Fr. Charles Aziere, OSB. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Pallbearers were Alan Osterhaus, Robert Rettele, Fred DeNoon, Thomas Osterhaus, William Love and Terry Osterhaus.