The wake for Father Robert E. Pahler will begin with vespers at 3 p.m. Dec. 17 in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 1905 Portage Trail Cuyahoga Falls. Bishop Edward Malesic will preside and Father Frank Walsh will be the homilist. The wake will continue until 7 p.m. in the church.
Bishop Martin Amos, retired bishop of Davenport, Iowa, will celebrate Father Pahler’s funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Dec. 18 in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. The homilist will be Father Tom Johns.
Father Pahler, 91, died on Dec. 10.
He was born April 18, 1929 to the late Herman and Sadie Ann (Gill) Pahler. Father Pahler was educated at Our Lady of Angels School and St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. He attended St. Joseph’s College, Our Lady of Angels Seminary and Saint Mary Seminary in Cleveland.
Archbishop Edward Hoban ordained Father Pahler to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland on May 18, 1957 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
His first assignment was as parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Cleveland. On June 14, 1962, he was transferred to St. Christopher Parish in Rocky River, where he was parochial vicar until being assigned to the sale role at Annunciation Parish in Cleveland on Oct. 16, 1968. In addition to this assignment, Father Pahler served as chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Cuyahoga Southwest Deanery, effective Jan. 8, 1969.
Father Pahler was appointed chaplain of St. John Hospital in Cleveland on Sept. 2, 1969, and he was appointed chaplain of Parma Community Hospital in Parma on Aug. 4, 1971.
He returned to parish work on July 1, 1977, as parochial vicar of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Medina.
On Sept. 23, 1977, Father Pahler was named pastor of St. Gabriel Parish in Mentor, serving there until he was appointed pastor of Queen of Heaven Parish in Uniontown on Oct. 22, 1990. He served there until he retired on July 1, 1999, when he was named pastor emeritus.
Those who knew him said Father Pahler, who will be missed greatly, would be remembered as a kind, gentle and gracious priest who loved priesthood and ministry. He also would be remembered for his ability to arrive late to concelebrate liturgies – stole and alb in hand – greeting other the concelebrants while making his way to the front pew during the opening hymn.
Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brook Park.