Douglas B. Dade, 80

GILFORD — Douglas Brooks Dade, 80, of Gilford, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2026, with his son and daughter by his side.

Douglas was born May 1, 1946, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Ernest and Marian (Winn) Dade. On our assumed accounts, Doug was a happy surprise to his parents and older brother Jason, already 14 years his senior.

Doug grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts, and summered in New Hampshire, on Lake Winnipesaukee, where he was locally recognized as an accomplished water skier. He attended Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan, and Kents Hill School in Kents Hill, Maine. Doug was not a man born for institution, so naturally, he left private school and proudly enlisted in the U.S. Army. Doug continued his predisposition for nonconformity while serving his country on active duty from 1964 to 1967, and again in the Army National Guard in the 1970s.

After sowing his wild oats in Germany, during his time in the service, he returned to Winchester, Massachusetts, where he rekindled love with his middle school sweetheart and married in a small civil ceremony in April of 1970. The couple settled in Reading, Massachusetts, where they started their family.

Douglas spent many years in the motorcycle industry and at one point was widely recognized as one of the best Harley-Davidson mechanics on the eastern seaboard. In the mid-1980s he moved his family full time to their home in Gilford, on Doug’s beloved Lake Winnipesaukee, raising his family in the Lakes Region enjoying all the lakes and mountains had to offer. Upon retirement Doug was a Marine Patrol officer with NH Marine Patrol as well as a special deputy for the Belknap County Sheriff’s Department.

He had many interests throughout his years and was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying boating, camping, hiking, snowmobiling, skiing, hunting, fishing and motorcycle riding. He also took great pride in home maintenance and lawn care, and with his leaf blower in hand made sure to have the cleanest driveway in town. Doug passed many of his passions along to his children and later his grandchildren. Some of Doug’s happiest and proudest moments in life were those moments spent in the woods with his family.

Doug was a proud father and grandfather that enjoyed celebrating his kids' and grandkids’ achievements and milestones. He was extremely proud of his son Jeff’s law enforcement career, and his daughter Cheryl’s hunting skills. He enjoyed watching his granddaughter, Katharine, ski and ride horses, as well as Emma and Carolyn at numerous dance recitals and gymnastic shows, and took great pride in watching Emma and Carolyn enjoy his passion for hunting. He always had a scratch ticket or two in his pocket for the kids, but was sure to remind them, if they won, he got half.

Doug, through his passions and interests, had lots of friends, some were in motorcycle clubs, some were in law enforcement, some liked to hunt, and some liked to mow lawns, some liked guns, and some were interested in two-way radios. Some rode motorcycles and others snowmobiles, and many did a combination of all the above. Doug knew a guy for everything, whether it was for painting, for mowing, an electrician, a plumber, a welder or a handy man. Undoubtedly if you did work for Doug, you were now a good friend.

Some of Doug’s favorite places on this Earth were his home on Lake Winnipesaukee as well as Anticosti Island, Quebec, Canada. Doug made lifelong friends on this island, hunting white-tail deer, and was joyed to be able to share this wonderful place with not only his hunting buddies, but his children and grandchildren.

Doug was a stubborn man, set in his ways, which were the “normal ways,” just ask him, but he was also a giving man, who quietly gave to charities and foundations supporting the things that he loved most.

Doug spent 25 years of his life with Christine Fortier at his side. The two enjoyed many adventures including riding his beloved Harley and snowmobiling all over the U.S. and Canada.

Doug was predeceased by his mother and father, Ernest and Marian (Winn) Dade, and his brother, Jason Dade. Doug is survived by his son, Jeffrey Dade; daughter Cheryl Keenan; his grandchildren, Katharine Whitticom, Emma Keenan and Carolyn Keenan; as well as the mother of his children, Brenda Dupuis; nieces, nephews and many good friends.

A burial with military honors will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, at the NH Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen.

A celebration of life will follow the burial from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Belknap Mill in Laconia.

In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made in Doug’s memory to New Hampshire Fish and Game at wildlife.nh.gov.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, visit wilkinsonbeane.com.