Maximilian Karl Pfauntsch

Maximilian Karl Pfauntsch passed away on July 28, 2023. Born in Weiden, Oberpfalz, Germany October 14, 1929, with his twin sister, he grew up in Weiding, Oberpfalz with paternal grandparents. He completed his primary school in Fuerstenstein near Passau and his high school (Gymnasium) in Regensburg, Ettal and Amberg, Germany graduating in 1945.

In early 1946 he became a translator for the US Army and worked in Frankfurt and Friedberg as a US Army Regimental Court Interpreter through 1954 before being sponsored to go to the United States and eventually Salina, Kansas after enlisting into the US Air Force. In Kansas, he became a US citizen and married his wife, Nora Pinzon. His other duty stations included Torrejon Air Force Base in Spain for 5 years, Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, and Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska with the Strategic Air Command (SAC). He served two tours of duty in Vietnam at Cam Ranh Air Force Base and Saigon. Once back in Nebraska he received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In 1978 he was assigned to Ramstein Air Force Base, Ramstein, Germany as Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Headquarters SAC’s 7th Air Division before retiring in 1987 as a Command Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) after 33 years of service. During that time, he completed his curriculum for PhD in Linguistics at the University of Saarbrucken. He was highly decorated including receiving the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters. He next worked for the American Red Cross, the American Rod and Gun Club and as a German language teacher.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He will be forever remembered for his humility, service to others and his athletic abilities (ski jumping, motorcycle racing, scuba diving, gliders and soccer). Max is survived by Nora, his wife of over 66 years, his half-brother Karl-Heinz Pfauntsch, his 4 children Richard, Erika, Maxine and Meta, his grandsons Chase and Sage, and his great grandson, Jack. Max was preceded in death by his sister Metha Boesl.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Cognitive Disorders Research Fund in Neurology (account # 302185) at Ohio State University (+1-614-625-8931).

Arrangements entrusted to SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST.