Albert J. Akerstrom III, 81

BELMONT — Albert John Akerstrom III, 81, a lifelong resident of Belmont, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on Sept. 16, 2025.

Albert was born on May 30, 1944, in Laconia, the son of Albert Akerstrom II and Arlene (Bosselait) Akerstrom. After graduating from Belmont High School in the class of 1962, he started a lifetime of service. He first worked for the Belmont Highway Department. He became a member of the Belmont Fire Department Call Company in 1963, and then served in the United States Army from 1964 to 1967 as a mechanic primarily stationed in Fort Richardson, Alaska.

After his military service, he started full time with the Laconia Fire Department and rose through the ranks to captain. He was the forest fire warden in Belmont and a member of the Forest and Lands Grant Committee. In March of 1984, he was hired to serve the town he loved as the Belmont fire chief. He accomplished many of his department goals throughout that time. Providing the town with full time 24/7 staffing, updating the equipment to Pierce fire trucks and building the current fire station were the highlights of his career. Bert solicited donations and volunteer labor to get the $1.2-million project completed for under $200,000 and without any taxpayer money. He decided it was time to retire as chief in 2004, but remained a member of the Belmont Call Company until 2013, ending a 50-year fire service career.

Albert was a man known by many names, Al, Bert, Aggie, Tykie and Chief are just a few. The names that he was most proud of were husband, father and papa. He married his beautiful wife Sheila in June of 1973, and she was his whole world. From there the family expanded to four children and, later, lots of grandchildren. Papa loved babysitting after his retirement, starting the morning with blueberry muffins for breakfast, his famous mac and cheese for lunch and lots of cups of chocolate milk. As he took great pride in maintaining his yard, Papa could always be found mowing the lawn in the summer or plowing the driveway in the winter, and could usually be convinced to give the grandkids a tractor ride or two.

Bert’s organization skills were top notch as anyone could attest by visiting his garage filled with tools that he had found for a good price at a yard sale or at the state surplus site. The garage was soon nicknamed Big Al’s Hardware Store, and many tools were borrowed from there over the years. Besides frequenting yard sales on the weekends, Bert and Sheila loved visiting Branson, Missouri, and going to country and gospel music concerts. During their adventures, they usually made their way to a restaurant so he could get some of his favorite seafood, especially lobster. When they were home, they could always be found in the stands of a gymnasium or the sideline of a field, cheering on their kids’ and grandkids’ sports teams.

Bert’s quick wit and sense of humor will be missed the most. He could rattle off a joke at the drop of a dime and usually had one in his pocket to show you as well. If he wasn’t telling a joke, you most likely would find one on the T-shirt he was wearing. He had the best laugh and smile and could light up a room with his big personality.

Albert is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Sheila (Wiles) Akerstrom; sons Mark Akerstrom and his wife Sharon, Robert Akerstrom and his fiancé Lisa and her daughter Madison, Stephen Akerstrom and his wife Sarah; and daughter Rebekah Cullen and her husband Jason; seven grandchildren, Travis and his fiancé Emily, Landon, Lucy, Noah, Natalee, Jacob and Emma; one great-grandchild on the way; his brother, Andrew Akerstrom and his wife Sabra; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Albert is predeceased by his two sisters Barbara Cailler and Alyce Jewell, and his niece Laurie Cailler.

The fire department will honor Albert’s final call with a traditional firefighter walk-through at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the funeral home, where active and retired firefighters will pay their final respects.

Calling hours will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, in the Carriage House at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia.

A Liturgy of the Word will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25, at St. Joseph Parish, 96 Main St.

Burial with military honors will follow the church service at South Road Cemetery, South Road.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation in memory of Albert Akerstrom, P.O. Box 7312, Gilford, NH, 03247.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, Laconia, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, visit wilkinsonbeane.com.