Pauline Andre

Born in Des Moines, IA to Paul Vermie and Anna Mary Johnson, Pauline grew up on the family farm in Runnels, IA, the third of four children. She was 13 when her father died so the family moved to Des Moines where she attended East High, meeting her future husband, Paul Andre, in English class.

In 1944, Paul was in the Army Air Corps training in California while Pauline was supporting the war effort in a factory in Iowa. They traveled separately to Reno, NV, where they married on July 2 at ages 19 and 21. While Pauline traveled back to Iowa by bus, Paul deployed to South America and on to India, where he flew over the infamous “hump” to China.

After the war, St. Paul, MN was home for one year where their post-war baby boom began with Pamela. They returned to Des Moines where Linda and Michael were born. Seeking a warmer climate, the family moved to Chula Vista in 1953, where Mark and James were later born.

The family enjoyed the outdoors throughout California with weekly picnics, fishing, hiking, camping in the Eastern Sierra, beach parties and baseball. Pauline was a die-hard Padre fan from their first days at Westgate Park to her own last days. She was a dedicated homemaker but also worked for twenty years as loan officer at North Island Credit Union. Her greatest tragedy was to lose Paul to illness in 1998, after 54 years of marriage. For 26 more years she sustained the clan and family home with inspiration and love.

Pauline is survived by her children, four grandchildren, five step great-grandchildren, her brother-in-law, and the extended families of two nephews, a niece and numerous families of long-beloved friends. Her children are grateful for their support, for that offered by her neighbors and by her devoted care givers.

A service to celebrate Pauline’s life will be held on Sunday at 1:00 pm January 12, 2025 at the Glen Abbey Chapel of Roses in Bonita, CA.