Pauline Clara Wasson

Pauline Wasson of Gig Harbor, Washington, passed away peacefully on Feb. 28 at Garden Terrace Healthcare Center of Federal Way, Washington.

Pauline was born Jan. 27, 1936, to the late Karl and Josephine (Ritter) Kirsch on their farm in Winamac. She was a first generation American as her parents had immigrated from Germany. She graduated from Winamac High School and continued her education at St. Elizabeth School of Nursing in Lafayette, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1956. Pauline married John N. Wasson on Dec. 27, 1956. Their marriage lasted 62 years before Jack passed away in 2019.

Pauline retired from nursing to be with her husband as he traveled for work. Her last job was as a critical care nurse at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance, California. She raised three children and made supporting all of their activities look easy. Pauline loved to garden and quilt, learning the art of Hawaiian quilting from Auntie Debbie Kakalia at the Bishop Museum, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Between traveling with Jack for his job and vacationing together, they traveled to all seven continents. 

Pauline is survived by son J. Kimo Wasson [Diana], Federal Way, Washington; daughters: Rose M. Swift [Gary], Gardnerville, Nevada and E. Ilima Brainard [Thomas], Federal Way, Washington; and four grandchildren: Jamie Swift, Harley Swift [Jade], Nick Brainard and Kim Brainard. 

Church service will be held at St. Nicholas Church in Gig Harbor, Washington on May 22 and in the near future there will be a private memorial in Hawaii, where Pauline will be inurned by her husband’s side.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society or the Charity of your choice. 

Please visit and leave remembrances on the on-line memorial page at: https://www.havenrest.com/obituary/Pauline-Wasson.  

(Pulaski County Journal — March 20, 2024)