James David Pahl

James David Pahl passed away on his 85th birthday, Saturday, November 30, 2024. Visitation will be held at the Woodlawn Cemetery Chapel from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm on Monday, December 9th, with a brief memorial service at 2:30. 
 
James, born in Iowa on November 30, 1939, was the child of Gustav and Meta (Kaiser) Pahl. His father, Gus, was a Lutheran minister and moved the family to Chicago when James was a young boy. Gus was a respected pastor in his community. 
 
James graduated high school and began studying music and aviation at the University of Illinois. He earned his pilot’s license before the age of eighteen and was exploring a career in the United States Air Force as a pilot, however, due to vision issues he was unable to pursue that dream and refocused his attention on music. After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, James decided to pursue a Master’s Degree at the University of Northern Illinois, where he met and later married Sandra Pahl on November 26, 1964. In 1971, the couple relocated to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where James began his tenure at Southwest High School where he had tremendous success as a high school band director taking great pride in his students' successes, touching the lives of countless young musicians. While working as the band teacher James made many close friendships, with both co-workers and his students, that lasted his lifetime. He shared not only his love of teaching and music with so many, but had a great zest for fun and humor.
 
After establishing themselves as music teachers, James and Sandy had two children, Leslie and Marc.  While James and Sandra were raising their family, James continued to pursue his love of aviation and began a business selling ultralight airplanes with his partner Dick Moemarts. They used the proceeds from this business to purchase their first airplane, a Cessna 150. James had many other interests as well. James and Sandra were always ready to travel and see new places, from a college trip to Alaska with close friends to multiple trips to Europe, along with visits with the family to Hawaii and Mexico. In 1971, with the help of family and friends, they built a cabin on Mary Lake near Townsend, Wisconsin, where James loved to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. Always in pursuit of the next adventure, James kept himself immersed in a wide range of activities such as fishing, camping, off-road motorcycling, downhill skiing, and eventually Harley Davidson motorcycles. 
 
After a long 24-year battle with a rare debilitating illness (Paraneoplastic Syndrome) secondary to breast cancer, Sandra passed away on May 21, 2016. Following that James continued to enjoy time with friends and family. Facing multiple health issues, James died peacefully with family members by his side. He will be greatly missed but his memories and stories of his adventures live on in everyone he knew.
 
James was preceded in death by his parents Gustav (d. 1981) and Meta (d.1999) Pahl, his older sister Carol (d.2022) along with her husband, and close friend of James, Roy Britton (d.2022). 
  
James is succeeded by his children: Leslie Kreutz (Pahl) and Marc (Joleen) Pahl; grandchildren: Cooper, Aryanna, Addison, and Cruz; nephew: “Jimmy” (Vicki) Britton; niece: “Mimi” (Joe) Bopp; along with grandnieces and grandnephews, many close friends, and thousands of students inspired by his teaching.

Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.lyndahl.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James David Pahl, please visit our floral store.