Pauline Ann (Duffy) Bauer

Pauline Ann Bauer, age 98, passed away in Kansas at the Olathe Hospice House on June 19, 2025. She was born April 27, 1927 in Charter Oak, Iowa, the daughter of Luke and Anna (Eich) Staley. She grew up in the Charter Oak area, graduating from Westside High School in 1944.

On September 11, 1947 Pauline became the bride of Richard Thomas “Tom” Duffy in Council Bluffs, Iowa. After a brief residence in Colorado where their first son was born, they moved to Nebraska City, Nebraska where they raised their growing family. Pauline enjoyed working many years as a waitress at the well-known Ulbrich’s Restaurant and later was employed at J.C. Penney’s until her retirement in 1992. She was a long-time member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church and in later years, St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Her marriage had been cut short when Tom passed away in 1980, but she found love again, marrying Paul Bauer of Racine, Wisconsin in 1998. She remained living there until Paul passed away in 2018. Soon after, she moved to Olathe, Kansas to be near family and lived in an Independent Senior Living Residence where she remained until her death. She thoroughly enjoyed her many friends and activities there, seldom missing the opportunity to play Bingo or other games.

“Granny” as she was affectionately known, was loved by all who knew her. Her grandchildren will remember her as a fun-loving, young-at-heart grandma who never missed the opportunity to give them goodies or play a game of Aggravation. This very special grandma will be dearly missed by grandchildren Sean, Christopher, Aaron, Michanne, Chesna, Joshua, Ariel, Kim, Rachel, Stephanie, Chris, Emma, and Addie. Also dear to her heart were Paul and Lisa, raised by her daughter Kathy. In addition she leaves behind 30 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren.

The family attributes her long and happy life to her ability to accept what came her way, best expressed with the often uttered remark, “Whatever!”

She was preceded in death by husbands Tom Duffy and Paul Bauer, an infant son Timothy, daughter Kathy Duffy, brothers Phil and Norb Staley, and step-son David Bauer and wife Diana.

Left to cherish her memory are sons Michael Duffy and wife Suzanne, Terry Duffy and wife Karen, step-daughter Cindy Larson and husband Mark, step-son Paul Bauer and wife Sharon (children Steven, Christine, Jeffrey, Matthew), and children of step-son David and wife Diana (Mike, Eileen, Gary). 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Olathe Hospice House, 15310 S. Marion St., Olathe, KS, 66061 or c/o Terry Duffy, 16867 S. Bradley Dr., Olathe, KS 66062.

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