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Memory Eternal, Fr. John Kahle

The V. Rev. John Kahle, the retired pastor of St. Paul Orthodox Church in Emmaus, Pa., departed this life on April 6. (St. Paul's is part of the Diocese of Charleston, Oakland, and the Mid-Atlantic, Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America.)

The schedule of services for Fr. John follows.  All services will occur at St. Paul's in Emmaus:

Thursday night (April 10) @ 7 PM:  Priest's Funeral Service

Friday morning (April 11) @ 10 AM:  Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts in the presence of Fr. John, followed by the General Funeral Service.  The internment will follow these services.

Letters of condolence may be sent to his family at 172 Harrison St., Emmaus, PA 18049.

Please remember Fr. John in your prayers.  May his memory be eternal.

About Fr. John

Father John Kahle was born July 19, 1928, in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, to James and Rachel (Ludwig) Kahle. He attended the elementary and high schools in his home town, and graduated Class Orator in 1946.

After serving four years with the United States Army, he began a 14 year career with Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., serving as Supervisor of Plant Safety, Plant Planning Manager, and Manufacturing and Engineering Estimator. In 1964 he left Air Products and opened Kahle's Music Store in Emmaus, which he owned and operated with his family until 1995 when he retired from business.

A convert to the Orthodox Church from the Lutheran faith in 1951 when he married Helen Sikorski, Father John was ordained a Sub-Deacon on December 24, 1979 by His Eminence, Archbishop ELIA and to the Holy Diaconate by His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP on September 28, 1980 at the Church of St. Ignatius of Antioch in Bolivar, Pennsylvania. On April 28, 1982, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and served there as Assistant Pastor until 1987. In January of that year, Father John was appointed Pastor of the newly founded Mission Church of St. Paul in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. Under his leadership, the parish grew from 45 members to 150 members and moved from the tiny church on South 4th Street to its present location, a much larger edifice, at 156 East Main Street in Emmaus.

On September 28, 1997, on the day that the new church was dedicated, Fr. John was elevated to the dignity of Archpriest by His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN. He continued to serve the faithful of St. Paul as their pastor until his retirement in May of 1999. He is described as a man of dignity, honor, commitment and total unselfishness - a man who is loved and respected by everyone who knows him. Father John and Khouriye Helen have seven children, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchild.

Biography from http://www.spaoc.org/About/Clergy.dsp.