Pauline Marie McGinty, age 88, passed away surrounded by family Saturday, June 7, 2025  She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles; parents, George and Alma Merkel; brothers  Royalance, and Charles; and sisters, Doris, Vergie, and Georgia.

Pauline is survived by her son, Kevin; daughter, Kathy (Dave) Reynolds; grandson, Daniel (fiancé Elizabeth) Reynolds; great-grandchildren, Isaac and Aaron Reynolds; sisters, Gladys (Wilmer) Peter and Jean (Dave) Koelsch, and her many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, family, and friends.

Pauline was born on a farm outside of Story City, Iowa on March 23, 1937. She was the sixth child of George and Alma Merkel. As one of eight children, it would have been easy for her to get "lost in the crowd" but Pauline never was one to get lost in the crowd; she was always in the middle of it!

As a young girl growing up in McCallsburg, Iowa, she showed true entrepreneurial spirit and got a paper route. Remember, this was back in the day when girls usually did not have paper routes. She kept walking around the block, trying to work up the nerve to ask the man if she could have a route which had become available. She shouldn't have been concerned as she could talk anyone into anything.

Though she was only 5'2" she played basketball in high school proving yet again that the word "can't" wasn't in her vocabulary.

During her senior year, she met the love of her life, Chuck McGinty. While many girls got married right out of high school, Pauline dashed off to the big city, Minneapolis, leaving poor Chuck behind. He eventually followed her and they were married on October 5, 1957. A year and one day later their son Kevin was born, followed by their daughter Kathy two years later.

Sadly, she lost her husband in 1977 when she was only 40 years old. It was time for a new adventure.

At a time when older adults typically did not begin their college career, Pauline enrolled in college when she was 41 years old. After obtaining her AA in education at Inver Grove Community College, she commuted daily from Minneapolis to St. Cloud State University for 18 months in order to earn her BA in special education.

After substitute teaching in the Minneapolis Public Schools for one year, she moved on to Crown Point, New Mexico where she was a special education teacher for one year. The birth of her first and only grandchild, Daniel Reynolds, brought her back to the Twin Cities but didn't keep her there for very long. She got a position as a special education teacher in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, which was only a mere eight hours away from her grandson so she could easily visit him on long weekends, holidays and summer breaks.

Pauline viewed life as an adventure. She was passionate about God and about people. She never met a stranger. She was also a very gifted teacher and storyteller. For years, along with her friend Addie, she had a Bible Club in the basement of her home. She also went on a number of mission trips to Russia, Kiev and Kazakhstan. She also visited Israel.

Retirement didn't slow her down for a moment. She was a reserve teacher in the Minneapolis Public Schools for another 19 years.

She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

A Funeral Service will be held 11:00 AM, Monday, June 16, 2025, at River Valley Church - Apple Valley Campus, located at 14898 Energy Way, Apple Valley, MN 55124, with a Visitation starting at 10:00 AM. Please enter through Door "C" (closest door to church sign on Pilot Knob Road).

Private family Interment at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers/In honor of the compassionate care Pauline received, our family invites memorial gifts to support the new bus fund at Apple Valley Village. https://www.applevalleycampus.org/apple-valley-bus/

Add a dedication in memory of Pauline McGinty. To give by check, make out to "Apple Valley Village" and please note "In Memory of Pauline McGinty" in the memo. Mail to: Cassia Foundation, 7171 Ohms Ln, Edina, MN 55439.