Julius Pfaff Obituary (1927 - 2013)

Julius Pfaff, 86, of Pontiac, passed away on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 2:16 a.m. at his home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pontiac. Father David Sabel will officiate. St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Pontiac. Friends may call on Monday, November 4, 2013 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home in Pontiac. Julius was born on March 4, 1927 in Hungary, son of Johann and Elizabeth (Sonntag) Pfaff. He married Lois Marie Dahms on February 27, 1954 in Menomonee Falls, WI. She passed away on October 22, 2001. He is survived by four sons, John L. (Janeen) Pfaff of Pontiac, IL, Brian Pfaff of East Peoria, IL, Robert (Sharri) Pfaff of Pontiac, IL, and J. Richard (Laura) Pfaff of Cornell, IL; three daughters, Catherine M. (Lowell) Frey of Danvers, IL, Laure A. DeFrees of Pontiac, IL, and Ginger (Jeff) Sitarz of Sugar Grove, IL; 23 grandchildren, Michele (Jackie) Pfaff-Pampinella, Matthew (Amanda) Pfaff, Amanda Pfaff, Laura Frey, Elizabeth (Josh) Martin, Mary Frey, Lucas Frey, Sarah Frey, Eva Pfaff, Julia Pfaff, Bethany (Mo) Mehta, Brenton Pfaff, Natalie Pfaff, Holly Pfaff, Abbie Pfaff, Jacqui DeFrees, Justine Pfaff, Madison Pfaff, Conrad Pfaff, Heather (Jordan) Geyer, Joshua Pfaff, Alex Pfaff, Daniel Sitarz; and 7 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and several brother and sisters. Julius was drafted into the German army in August of 1944, when Hitler invaded his homeland. Instead of going to the front, Julius was trained as an interpreter, to translate Hungarian for the German soldiers. He also trained others to become interpreters. By the time Germany surrendered in 1945, Julius had been captured by American soldiers. He spent four months as an American prisoner of war. After the war was over, Julius was reluctant to return to Hungary, fearing that the Russians would send him to Siberia. He sailed from Genoa, Italy in December of 1949 and arrived in New York through Ellis Island on Friday, January 13, 1950. He spent four years working with his Uncle Peter Pfaff at Pete's Bakery in Milwaukee. This is where he met his wife, Lois. Julius soon learned of an opportunity to open his own bakery in a town in Illinois. On April 15, 1954, he opened the door of Pfaff's Bakery on Mill Street in Pontiac. In 2001 he sold the business to family members who have kept the tradition going. Julius was the founder of Pfaff's Bakery in Pontiac, IL from 1954 and retired in 1993. He was a life member of Pontiac Elks Club and a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pontiac. Memorials may be made to Grace Christian School, 1314 Indiana Avenue, Pontiac, IL 61764.