Brian H. Pehl

Shrewsbury - Death invokes our ability to remember and cherish certain things, simple or not, about the person we love.

Brian Pehl found joy in the simpler things: a trip to Saratoga Racetrack, a beautiful summer day at the beach with his grandchildren, scenic drives with his wife, an ice-cold Coca Cola.

Death also makes us wonder where our loved one might be after they've left us. We think Brian is at the racetrack, dressed as he always was with a button down shirt and a signature well-worn baseball cap. Heaven doesn't have a rule against hats, so he's content knowing he can wear it all the time there. He's taking in the sport of the game and the rush of the race, betting always on the longshot and willing to take that risk, in the company of familiar faces he missed like Eddie Gannon and Rusty Ransford, who we believe met him at the pearly gates.

Brian died at home, with his family by his side, after a long battle with Multiple Myeloma on Monday, June 1, 2020. He was 78. We pray that he now experiences the true sweetness of comfort and peace.

Plans to celebrate his life will be announced when restrictions and boundaries have been lifted.

Brian Hans Pehl was born March 26, 1942 in Worcester, a son of Hans and Ingrid (Lundgren) Pehl. Raised in Shrewsbury, he was a graduate of Shrewsbury High School with the class of 1960. There but for the grace of God he survived the category F4 Tornado which ravaged Worcester County on June, 9 1953, including his home while he was inside. Brian attended both the University of Miami and Worcester Junior College.

He met North Adams native Cynthia Giusti at a dance one night in Western Mass and they later married in Boston on October 1, 1966. Westborough and Worcester were home for a period of years before returning to his native Shrewsbury where they have lived for the last five years.

Brian made his career in construction and was an accomplished commercial contractor with projects all over New England. As owner of Ram Builders, Inc. he managed the construction of many commercial and industrial design-build projects. Other ventures included owning and operating a racquetball club, installing geothermal heating systems, and in his younger years he trained and owned thoroughbred racehorses.

His approach to life has lessons in it for those of us who remain. Always grateful for the little things, he had a kind and calm demeanor, with a confident can-do attitude and willingness to try and tackle anything - he could always be relied on to lend his help and expertise to family and friends alike.

In addition to his wife of 54 years, Cyn, he leaves his children, Jonathan H. Pehl (Jenny) and Brittany Pehl Danielson (David), all of Shrewsbury; three grandchildren, Jake Vasquez Pehl, Vance Vasquez Pehl and Esme Rose Danielson; his siblings, Spencer Pehl of West Boylston and Sharon Waibel of Foxborough; in-laws Elizabeth and Bud Dickinson, Dorothy Ransford, all of North Adams, Barbara and Richard Steele of Franklin; cousins Pat and Larry Gannon of Shrewsbury, Frank Pfeiffer of Worcester as well as a large extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends whom he loved dearly.

Memorials in his name may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St, Boston, MA 02114.

Arrangements by James & John Heald of The Joyce Funeral Home.