Pauline E Callahan Bell

Funeral Services for Pauline E. (Callahan) Bell will be conducted from the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Nora Mendyk, officiating. Interment will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Gothenburg Cemetery at Gothenburg, Nebraska.

Pauline Elizabeth (Tarr) Callahan Bell, 92 years of age of Crete, Nebraska, formerly of Funk, Nebraska and Holdrege, passed away on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at The Gardens Assisted Living in Crete. Pauline was born on June 17, 1925, in Gothenburg, the eldest child born to Paul and Katherine Carolina Clara (Heuer) Tarr.

Pauline attended Arnold High School graduating as the Valedictorian of the Class of 1943. She continued her education at Kearney State College, where she received her teaching certificate. She then taught school in several one-room country schools in the Gothenburg area for six years. For many years, she was employed at the J.M. McDonald Department Store in the ladies' ready-to-wear department and at Millie's Dress Shop, both in Holdrege.

On October 12, 1947, Pauline was united in marriage to Harry Martin Callahan in the Methodist Church in Cozad, and to this union two children were born: Donald L. and Linda J. Callahan. The family made their home in Cozad, Kearney and Holdrege before retiring to Funk. Harry passed away on May 21, 1987.

Pauline was baptized on November 23, 1947 in the Cozad, Nebraska Methodist Church. Pauline was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, where served on numerous committees, was active in the ladies' organizations and helped start the fellowship coffee hour. Pauline loved her church and was as active as her age would allow. She continued to volunteer her time by helping to fold the church's newsletters well into her 80's.

Pauline did not like to be idle. When not working, you could find her either in the kitchen, where she made the best cookies and German Chocolate cake, or outside tending to her garden. Her gardens were always full of beautiful flowers and never had a weed. Her family was able to enjoy the rewards of her hard work and time put into her vegetable gardening, as she canned most of what she grew.

On May 11, 1991, Pauline was united in marriage to Ronald E. Bell from North Platte, Nebraska. The couple made their home in Funk until October 2014, when they moved to The Gardens Assisted Living in Crete, to be closer to their family.

Besides her parents and first husband, Harry M. Callahan; she was preceded in death by: one brother, Gilbert Tarr; and one brother-in-law, Wayne Cunningham.

Pauline is survived by her husband, Ron Bell of Crete; two children: Donald Callahan and his wife, Marian of El Cajon, California and Linda Callahan-Hanson, and her husband, Matt of Crete; four grandchildren: Laura and Holly Callahan, and Blake and Brock Hanson; sister, Marilyn Cunningham of Loveland, Colorado; brother, Melvin Tarr and his wife, Fern of Omaha, Nebraska; and sister-in-law, Marie Tarr of Colorado Springs, Colorado; along with a host of many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege or the Nebraska Children's Home Society of Omaha.

Expressions of caring and kindness may be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home of Holdrege is in charge of arrangements.