Paul James Pfister

Paul James Pfister, 87, of Terre Haute, died Saturday evening, March 8, 2008, in Royal Oaks Health Care and Rehabilitation Center. He was the former owner and president of Pfister and Company, Inc. He was born Sept. 15, 1920, in Terre Haute to J. B. “Ben” Pfister and Emma C. Welte Pfister. Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Betty J. Higgins Pfister; sons, Paul James Pfister, Jr. and his wife, Linda of Melbourne, Ky, Donald Pfister and his wife, Stephanie of Rosedale, and David Pfister and his wife, Christine of White Salmon, Wash.; daughters, Mary Caye Pfister of Terre Haute, Margaret Pfister Ellis and her husband, David of New Palestine, Therese Pfister McLaughlin and her husband, Mark of Lake Zurich, Ill., Karen Downey Klemencic of Carmel, Deborah Downey Lyons and her husband, Robert of Carmel, Cathy Downey Lewin and her husband, Michael of Mount Dora, Fla., and Marcia Downey Snyder and her husband Douglas of Indianapolis; sisters, Rita Hart of Nashville, Mary E. Scripps of Naples, Fla., and Anne T. Cronin of Terre Haute; brothers, William Pfister and his wife, Mary Margaret of Indianapolis, and Robert Pfister and his wife Esther of Terre Haute. Also surviving are numerous grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Margo Engstrom Pfister; and brothers, Raymond Pfister, Joseph Pfister, John Pfister, Charles Pfister and Leo Pfister.Paul was a graduate of Garfield High School and attended Indiana State University until being called to active service in World War II. During the war he served with the U.S. Navy where he was a patrol bomber pilot, PBY5A Catalina in the Pacific and received the Air Medal for saving another pilot. After the war he continued his studies at Indiana University where he received his bachelors of science degree with High Distinction in 1947. After college, he became a real estate broker specializing in industrial development having worked for J. B. Pfister Company and Commercial and Industrial Realtors. He served as past president of the Great Lakes Industrial Development Council, was instrumental in helping to organize the Indiana Chapter of the Society of Industrial Realtors where he served for several years as chairman of the Educational Committee and was a member of the National Society of Industrial Realtors. He also was active in the Terre Haute Board of Realtors, Indiana Association of Real Estate Boards, National Association of Real Estate Boards, American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, National Institute of Real Estate Brokers, Taxpayers Association of Vigo County, and Area Planning Commission, Indiana Mortgage Bankers Association, Urban Land Institute, Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, Indiana State Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Manufacturing Association, American Management Association and the American Industrial Development Council. Most recently, he has served on the Board of Directors of Maryvale Apartments, and was the developer of Anthony Square Apartments, Carriage Homes and Springhill Commons. He has been a very active and dedicated volunteer to Gibault School for Boys where he served on the Board of Directors and helped develop the school’s foundation. He has been honored as the recipient of several community awards including, Jaycees Outstanding Young Man of the Year Award, Hospice of the Wabash Valley Chapman S. Root Award, Sisters of Providence Amelia Award, Archdiocese of Indianapolis Career Achievement Award class of 2000 and Omega Tau Rho Honorary Fraternity. Paul was a devout catholic and was a member of both Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church and St. Benedict Catholic Church. He worked with the Sisters of Providence on the Beatification of Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin, was a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and was a member of The Silent Men, Wabash Valley Community Foundation, SCORE, German Oberlandler Club and Third Friday Club.Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 13, 2008, in St. Benedict Catholic Church, with Father Darvin Winters officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. in the church with a Rosary Service to take place at 8 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Callahan and Hughes Funeral Home, 605 S. 25th St. The family kindly requests that memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Carmelite Monastery, 59 Allendale, Terre Haute, IN 47802; or to Sisters of Providence Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Shrine, 3301 St. Mary’s Road, St. Mary of the Woods, IN 47876; or Wabash Valley Community Foundation, Pfister Fund, 2901 Ohio Blvd., Terre Haute, IN 47803; or to the charity of your choice.