John Pahls

John Pahls, a dedicated librarian, compassionate volunteer and much loved family man, passed away suddenly on September 21, 2025, the international day of Peace, just eight days after receiving a diagnosis of aggressive cancer.

He was born on February 10, 1963 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Jim and Janis (Adams) Pahls, and he lived a life rich in service, education and love.

At the age of 18, John joined the army and served in Germany, where he began to cultivate his strong sense of duty and commitment to community. Following his military service, he pursued higher education, attending both the University of Cincinnati and Kent State University, ultimately becoming a librarian.

John's heart for service extended beyond the library setting. As a Marianist volunteer in Cleveland, Ohio, he prepared and served meals to patients in an AIDS hospice in a spirit of service that would continue throughout his life's work. This spirit led him to serve with the Maryknolls in Cambodia, where he worked with AIDS patients, established after-school programs for AIDS orphans and started children's libraries that nurtured the minds of many young learners.

Returning to Cleveland, John continued his career as a public librarian before going back to Asia to serve as a school librarian in Chon Buri, Thailand.

On January 1, 2011, John married the love of his life, Saren Hun. Together they created a nurturing home in Chon Buri and then in Taos, New Mexico. They welcomed their daughter, Fiona James Pahls and their son, Frederick Hun Pahls, into this world with joy.

In Taos, John worked tirelessly as a librarian for Taos High School and subsequently became the District Librarian for all the Taos Public Schools, where he continued to touch the lives of students and staff alike.

John is survived by his devoted wife Saren Hun, his cherished children Fiona and Frederick, and his siblings: Mary Jeanne Pahls, James Adams Pahls, Joseph Louis Pahls and Jeffrey Edward Pahls. He also leaves behind a wide circle of cousins, friends, coworkers and former and current students, all of whom are richer for having known him.

John's Memorial Service will be on Saturday, October 4 at 11 am at Rivera Funeral Home in Taos. There will likely be a meal at a local church fellowship hall afterward. Two days later on Monday, Oct. 6, there will be a military burial of John's ashes at 11:30 (not 11 am as stated before) at the Veterans Cemetery in Angel Fire, New Mexico. We are gathering at the Rivera Funeral Home in Taos (818 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, Taos, NM 87571) at 10:30 and the burial procession will leave at around 10:45 am to drive to Angel Fire, NM. 

Some folks have asked about contributing toward expenses that Saren and the kids will encounter. John worked hard to be as sure as possible that his family would be OK if something happened to him, but his last week was riddled with not only pain but worry that Saren and the kids might not be OK in the long run. Anyone who wishes to remember John in this way can visit this Go Fund Me site that the kids' school created in order to be of support to Saren and the kids: https://gofund.me/2b74dcbbf