Colleen Kristl Pauwels, 67, passed away April 24, 2013 at her home in Bloomington. She was born in 1946 in Chicago, IL to Frank & Alyce Kristl and spent her early years in Washington, Indiana before moving with her family to Mishawaka, Indiana where she attended grade school and high school. In 1968, she received her A.B. from Barat College in Lake Forest, IL and in 1971 moved to Bloomington with her husband Gerry where he attended graduate school in the IU Theatre Department.
A chance appointment in the government documents department at Wells Library during this time inspired her to pursue a career in librarianship. Shortly after earning her MLS, Pauwels was named acting director of the Indiana University Law Library in 1978 and became its permanent director in 1983. Concluding that a law degree was essential to success in her new role, she completed her J.D. in 1986 just three years after starting classes while continuing to work full time.
During her nearly thirty years as Director, Pauwels transformed Indiana University’s Law Library from a facility that struggled to meet the basic needs of its faculty and students into a nationally recognized legal research library. She guided the Library’s migration from a wholly print collection to one dominated by electronic resources. As a long-time member of Indiana Law’s Building Committee, her vision was equally vital in shaping the school’s physical development. She was integral in planning the 1986 addition and renovation of the Maurer School of Law, which vastly expanded both classroom and collection space while enabling the school to retain its position at the center of the Bloomington campus.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Pauwels was proudest by far of her large and loving family. She is survived by her husband Gerry, her children Erin and Matt, her brothers Tim Kristl of Kansas City, MO, and Kevin Kristl (Kim) of South Bend, IN, as well as numerous nephews, nieces and close friends.
Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday, April 30 from 4pm until 8pm at Day Funeral Home, 4150 E 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 1 at 10 am at St. Paul Catholic Center located at 1413 17th Street, Bloomington, IN 47408.
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