Peter Ruel Pachl

I miss Pete every day. I think of him often on my walks. He was one of my best friends.

I'll miss seeing Pete at LightFair. We met over 30 years ago when I was a Regional Sales guy for Kim Lighting, and Pete was a brash, forceful personality who made a big impression. Ever since those days, he was always a welcome sight at LightFair, and a few minutes of comeraderie in the busy aisles. He will be missed by many, many folks in our industry.

I've been missing Pete since he got sick in December. He was always such a good hearted member of the Monday Drippers, doing his part to fight the dreaded cancer. Bringing humor and a few snores our way. I love the picture of him and will hold that robust man in my minds eye forever. Linda, you are still here to receive my hugs. Stay strong, just like Pete.

I met Pete when I was working for Larry back when we were living in Bellingham in the late '70's. How things have changed since then, but Pete was always the same funny, crazy guy who I've had the immense pleasure of knowing. He became more than a sales rep but was a true friend. I'll never forget the time when Pete made a late night (I mean, really late night) call when I was sleeping in bed with my (then) wife. I didn't lock my doors back then as it was before Seattle got so urbanized. So...

Pete was one of my favorite lighting reps. Whenever I changed to a different manufacturer, I looked for ERW as my rep, then I knew I had a friend.

I knew Pete for many years in the lighting industry. I always looked up to him and respected him very much.

Linda, Jay and Kent, we are terribly sorry for your loss of a great husband and dad.

Pete was one of those special friends that do not come along very often in life, Lyle and I met Pete over 30 years ago in a tavern for our first business meeting, I think we knew then that Pete was very special.

He was someone you could count on in your personal life and in business. If ever there were a problem with a project with his lighting products, he would fix it, period! No...

Over 30 years ago I met Pete Pachl first over the phone when he called me to tell me that I was a low life because I worked for an electrical wholesale house and it was obvious I knew nothing about the lighting business (that last part was true).
Last month Pete called me on December 7th from his hospital bed to wish me a barely audible happy birthday. When I hung up I cried like a baby but we all thought a full recovery was in his future.
In between those calls were years of fun...

We put on our tennis shoes together many times in many places, from Mill Creek to Maui to Kapalua but, for me, no one can EVER fill his shoes.
To say he was one of a kind doesn't get it, but it comes close.
"The Colonel" [ phil buck ]