John R. Kahle

John R. Kahle, 98, long time resident of Saratoga and Los Gatos passed away peacefully at home on May 19, 2016.

He was a heroic figure to his many friends and family members. His zest for life and innate self-confidence allowed him to make the most of the opportunities that life offered, and these qualities provide inspiration and a model for living for all those close to him.

He was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1917, attended Duke University, and was a member of the military counter intelligence during World War II. During this time, he met and married Mary Fulton, also from Ohio. After the war, he followed his father into the law business, first attending law school at the University of Michigan, and finishing his degree at The Ohio State University. John and Mary headed out to California to begin an entirely new life. After John passed the California Bar, they settled in the Bay Area and eventually Saratoga where he established a successful career. They had four children — Jim, Ellen, John and Leslie. Mary passed away in 1963 from breast cancer and son Johnny was killed four months later in an automobile accident while on a family vacation. John was a very strong person and he never showed his strength of character more than at this time in his life. Somehow he was able to maintain his law practice and hold his beloved family together during this very difficult period.

His life reignited when Helen Mason walked into his law office. Despite breaking several office policies regarding client relationships, that John himself had imposed, a storied love affair was born, and they were married in 1966. A new family was formed with Helen and her three sons Bob, Jim, and Dan. The family was completed when son Bill was born to Helen in 1968. They were married for 50 years, and she was the love of his life.

Four years later at the height of his legal career, John and Helen opted for a more adventurous lifestyle. John entered the Foreign Service as a legal attaché for the U.S. State Department. Their first assignment was legal counsel for the Agency for International Development in Guatemala. John was always proud of his work on eminent domain policies among other international law assignments. Their next tour was in Indonesia, and was equally exciting and fulfilling.

They subsequently returned to the old family home in Saratoga, resumed their familiar life in the Saratoga community, and were lifelong members of the Saratoga Federated Church, and several other local endeavors. However, they never really lost the travel bug. They purchased a beautiful place on the shores of Whitefish Lake in Montana, and many wonderful memories were built enjoying family and friends in the Whitefish community.

He was a man of relentless optimism. He had the ability to intelligently converse on a multitude of subjects while his infectious sense of humor was always close at hand. He had the kindness found only in people of great strength. He was a devout Christian, and always tried hard to be a good person, to honor the memory of his revered father through his actions every day of his life. He will be dearly missed by family and the many friends he enjoyed across the world.