John Allen Pfahl passed away peacefully on March 26, 2021 in Puyallup, WA following a courageous battle with multiple health issues. John was born on November 6, 1935 in Tappen, ND to Daniel Pfahl and Lizzie Bader-Pfahl. He was preceded in death by his parents and nine siblings: brothers Reuben, Daniel, Adolph & Edward and sisters Frieda Barbaria, Tillie Wilkins, Elsa Horsted, Viola Essig, and Leverle Nichols. John’s survivors include his wife Marilyn, son Cal, and daughters Jill Larson (Paul) and Marcella Ohlsen (Jim); seven grandchildren Morgan and Jared Kenyon, John Larson (Ashleigh), Edward Larson, Brendan & David Pfahl, and Sara Madariaga (Martin); and two great-grandchildren Vanessa Madariaga and Rurik Larson. John will also be missed by the widespread extended family including numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
John graduated in 1954 from Northwestern Lutheran Academy in Mobridge, SD and then served in the Air Force from 1955 to 1962. Once discharged, he worked at a paper mill in Reedsport, OR where he met his wife Marilyn. They married in 1966 and in 1967 John landed a job working with the Air Force as a computer technician maintaining radar equipment in different locations in Oregon. In 1970, John was offered a position with the FAA at the Auburn, WA facility, continuing to work on air traffic control equipment, at which time John and his new family moved to Black Diamond, WA. In 1974 John and Marilyn purchased a 20-acre property in Buckley, WA on which they enjoyed raising cattle, horses, chickens and turkeys as well as vegetables in a large garden. When John retired from the FAA in 1990, the farm was prepared for sale and he lived his leisure years just down the hill from the farm. John enjoyed cribbage tournaments, camping club, and a good sense of humor. He belonged to the Buckley Eagles and the Enumclaw Moose Lodge.
As John prearranged, he will be interred in Jamestown, ND at the Sunset Memorial Gardens with his parents and siblings. Plans for a memorial gathering are currently on hold. Memorials may be made in John’s name to the American Cancer Society or Buckley Senior Center.