John died suddenly on Sunday, September 14, 2014, from a cause unknown, but apparently peacefully as he was found resting in the seat of his tractor, having worked the day cutting wood and mowing the lawn at the home he loved in West Stockbridge. John Krahm was born and raised on Long Island, the second child of four. His father worked as an accountant for many years, and John followed in his footsteps and became an accountant and CPA. Despite a successful career in Manhattan, John could not escape the strong call on his life to serve youth, and he soon transitioned to social work. He loved and served youth first in Long Island and then at The Desisto School in the Berkshires. Since then, for more than twenty years he's assisted The Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth in their mission, first as a cottage manager and then in The Berkshire Junior/Senior High School on campus as a school social worker and administrator. Amazingly, John was able to continue to love and hope in each child with whom he worked regardless of the challenges. John was a strong man with huge hands who loved the outdoors and working hardsplitting wood, tapping maple trees, and plowing and cutting with his tractor. But even more he adored his family: his wife of sixteen years, Julia Fichtner Krahm, and his four beautiful children, David John, Michael Joseph, Matthew Allan and Grace Noel. His heart was so big he could laugh freely and cry with abandon as he counted himself a most blessed mannot realizing he enriched every one of us immeasurably more. It's commonplace to speak of how wonderful a person was after he passes, but there was nothing common about the way John loved and cared for everyone he met. He gave of himself in such a selfless and vigorous manner that everyone who knew him marveled about the amazing, Godly, gracious man he was. John taught all of us how much joy can be found in the sheer and utter giving of himself for the sake of others: the boys he served, his coworkers and friends, family, his prized children, and his dearly beloved wife. In addition to his wife and children, John is survived by his older brother Bernard Krahm, his younger brother Charles Krahm, his younger sister Katherine Krahm Gurtowski. He is predeceased by his father, Bernard Krahm and mother Dorothy Haffey Krahm. A service celebrating the life of John Terence Krahm will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 88 Walker Street, Lenox, MA, conducted by Rev. Michael Tuck, Rector. Burial will follow at the West Stockbridge Town Cemetery in West Stockbridge, MA. The family will receive friends on Friday, September 19th from 4-7p.m. at Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to 'Krahm Children College Fund,' in care of FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to his family go to www.finnertyandstevens.com
