She often shared stories from her childhood of caring for the family’s dairy cows and poultry, doing chores alongside her siblings, and the many memories she made through 4-H and at the Seward and Lancaster County Fairs. Those early experiences never left her, and they became the foundation for the character she exemplified.
Pauline was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on March 25, 1945, and carried those beliefs with her throughout her life. She graduated from Pleasant Dale High School in 1948 and soon began teaching; she started her career in a rural one-room schoolhouse at District 71 before moving to District 64, where she taught for four years.
On June 11, 1950, Pauline married Walden Brandt, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Pleasant Dale, and were blessed with two children, Lorie and Kurt. In 2000, they joyously celebrated 50 years of marriage with family and friends.
Following Lorie’s birth, Pauline traded the classroom for life on the farm, until March of 1957 when the family moved to Lincoln. When Kurt started kindergarten in 1962, Pauline began working in the cafeteria at Randolph School. She later worked in the business office at Montgomery Ward from 1969 to 1973 before joining Farmers Mutual Insurance, where she remained until her retirement in 1992.
Pauline was a long-time member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. She was very active in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, as well as circle groups, and led many Bible studies over the years.
Always a teacher at heart, she was a strong proponent of reading and gifted her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with a steady supply of books. She thoroughly enjoyed listening to Lawrence Welk and Guy Lombardo music, traveling abroad with Walden and friends throughout the year, and sharing her experiences from many bus tours across the country. Over the years she became a familiar face at Aardvark Antiques, where she enjoyed the conversations with other antique collectors just as much as the treasures she discovered.
Pauline entered The Church Triumphant on July 1, 2026 in Lincoln, NE at the age of 95. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Walden; son-in-law John T
Safford Jr.; sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Neil Wurst; brother and sister-in-law Paul and Joan Berg; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Aaron and Dorcus Brandt; Truman and Esther Prange; Lloyd and Doris Bohling; Frank and Dorothy Duganitz; nieces Cynthia Sawyer and Angela Veillon.
Pauline is survived by daughter, Lorie (Randy) Vanek of Lincoln, NE; son, Kurt (Sharon) Brandt of Pleasant Dale, NE; granddaughters, Joanna (Matt) Clay of Lincoln, NE and Allison (Ryan) Haskin of Seward, NE; great-grandchildren, Emery and Madisen Clay; Thomas and Taylor Haskin; numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the caregivers at GracePointe Senior Living and Eventide Journey House, whose kindness, dignity, and loving care brought comfort to Pauline and to all who loved her.
Confirmation verse: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10
Funeral service: 11:00 am Friday, July 10, 2026, Redeemer Lutheran Church, 510 South 33rd Street.
Visitation from 2-7 pm Thursday, July 9, 2026, with family greeting friends from 5-7 pm at Roper and Sons Midtown Chapel, 4300 O Street.
Memorials to Redeemer Lutheran Church.