Johannes "Hans" Mahler, 91, of Salem, NH died peacefully on July 8, 2020. He was born in Bessarabia on Aug. 18, 1928. He married his wife, Elfriede Kaldun on April 9, 1950, recently celebrating their 70 ^th wedding anniversary.

Hans was a man who hoped for a better life for his family. He conquered fear, oppression and he prevailed against all odds.

Hans dreamed big, picking up his young family and moving them from Germany to America. Despite not speaking the language, he worked day and night to afford to move to New Hampshire where he bought land and built his own home. He then opened up his own business J. Mahler Tool Company.

He was very proud of his German heritage, being a member of the Boylston Schul-verein German Club for 30 years. He enjoyed dancing the polka and working the grill there.

Hans was an avid gardener and took great pride in his heirloom dahlias. He was a beekeeper who specialized in organic honey and was well known for his amazing bountiful vegetable garden, which fed many friends and family members.

He was an incredible husband, father and Opa.

He will be sadly missed by his beloved wife, Elfriede (Kaldun) Mahler; his son Willibald "Bill" Mahler, his daughters Monika McGillicuddy and her husband Joseph "Jay" and Heidi Waldron and her husband Gerald; his five grandchildren, Martin Gosselin and fiancé Angela Santos, Michael Gosselin and his wife Dina, Karissa Brunetti and her husband Dino, Kayla McMahon and her husband Christopher, Kaitlin Knapp and her husband Trevis, Justin McGillicuddy and his fiancé Tamara Hill; his six great-grandchildren, Michael, Kason, Paige, Aria, Christopher Jr. and August; his seven siblings, Lukas Mahler, Lorie Horton, Erika Groezinger, Anneliese Forster, Irma Nelson, Elfriede Kaufmann and Almide Phillips and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his father, Johann Mahler, his mother, Hulda his brothers, Ewald and Gottlob and his sisters, Ingrid and Adelina.

He was a lovely, humble kind and incredibly smart man who will be missed dearly by those who knew him. There will be a Celebration of Life for close family and friends on August 16 ^th at 1:00 PM at Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St., Salem, NH.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Johannes' name may be sent to Boston Children's Hospital Heart Foundation, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 or https://secure.childrenshospital.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2220&2220.donation=form1 Please select heart research in the drop down box.

To send a message of condolence to the family, please view the obituary at www.douglasandjohnson.com