Mr. Michael Jon Gregory Pahls

Michael Jon Gregory Pahls, beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle and, above all, teacher, passed away May 29, 2019, at the age of 47. Those who love and will miss him are his dear wife, Tracy Ann Harrington Pahls; daughters, Lily Anne Renfro and Abigail Susan Grace Pahls; father, Terry Pahls and stepmother, Linda Pahls; mother, Karla Kyle Hester and stepfather, Curt Hester; siblings, Eric Pahls (Jesús), Geoff Pahls, Jennifer Jank (Martin), Danielle Gray, Dana Gray, and LeAnn Simulia (Nick); father-in-law, David Russell Harrington and wife Linda; mother-in-law, June Swan (Tom); brother-in-law, Todd Harrington (Jana); sister-in-law, Kristina Bowen (Shane); nieces and nephews, Jennifer Bontrager (Jordan), Jonathan Harrington, Sarah Bowen, Laura Bowen, Cameron Jank; and great-nephews, Jacob and Jonathan Bontrager. In addition to family, Michael leaves behind many wonderful friends and colleagues, particularly Brian Robinette and Christopher Harless. He is accompanied in heaven by grandparents, Walter “Bud” and Mary (Mickey) Pahls and Karl and Mildred “Sue” Kyle; and nephew, Stewart Harrington. Michael was born Nov. 8, 1971, in Anderson, Indiana, where he lived with his close family and friends. While in junior high, he met the woman whom he would later discover was his soulmate, Tracy. During junior high, through the helps of friends and mentors, Michael began the journey of faith that altered and shaped the rest of his life. After graduating from high school, he attended Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, where he studied theology and received a Bachelor of Arts degree. Michael then moved to Chicago where he worked and attended seminary school and received his Masters of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. During this period of time, Michael spent time working to plant Christ Community Church in Carmel, Indiana. While in Chicago, he reconnected with Tracy and met his eldest daughter, Lily. The three quickly became inseparable, and Tracy and Michael were married on March 24, 2001. Michael then served as pastor of Peace Reformed Church in Chicago for five years, serving many in that community and creating unbreakable bonds with parishioners. Toward the end of that adventure, the family welcomed a daughter, Abigail, in 2004. A few months later the family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, so Michael could begin work on his PhD. During his time in St. Louis, Michael studied and taught at St. Louis University, served as an Anglican deacon and priest for multiple interconnected churches, and cultivated his family into a truly unique and loving unit. After completing his studies and while working on his dissertation, the family moved to Marion, Arkansas, so Michael could serve as pastor and priest at Trinity in the Fields Anglican Church. While in Marion, Michael served as a theology teacher at St. Agnes Academy for two years, an adjunct professor at Christian Brothers University, and as Youth Minister for St. Brigid’s Catholic Church. Throughout his ministerial years, Michael worked in the Prison Ministry field at multiple facilities helping to rehabilitate and indoctrinate dozens of inmates. In 2015, Michael finished his Doctorate of Philosophy in Historical Theology and completed an amazing dissertation on Venerable Cardinal John Henry Newman who is soon to be canonized. Michael’s education and ministry were his life, but his soul was his family. As a family, they were an unbreakable force. His wife and two daughters meant more to him than anything in the world, and they will dearly, dearly miss him. The visitation will be held at St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Memphis, Tennessee, on Monday, June 3, starting at 6 p.m. A vigil will follow at 7:20. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 4, at 10 a.m. at St. Brigid’s. Visitation will be noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, June 6, 2019 at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Service and Crematory followed at 2 p.m. by a memorial service and final commendation at the funeral home with interment at Anderson Memorial Park Cemetery.