Harold W. Peaslee, 76

LACONIA – Harold W. Peaslee, 76, of Dudley Circle, died Friday, January 6, 2012 peacefully at his home with his loving wife beside him, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s.

Born June 18, 1935 in Orange, NH, the only son of Ralph and Ruby (Carleton) Peaslee. He married Helen Johnston in June of 1960 and his second wife, Marcia, in October of 1990.

Harold graduated valedictorian from Canaan High School in 1953 and from Plymouth Teachers College in 1957, receiving a Bachelors Degree in Education. He taught at schools in Kingston, NH and Essex, MA until June of 1961. He then started working for Retail Credit Company out of Haverhill, MA. The company later became Equifax Services. He was retired from that company in 1991 after thirty years and became an independent contractor doing the same work for an additional fourteen years.

Mr. Peaslee was a NH veteran of the US Army. He served in the Reserves from July 1957 to May 1963. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and served on many different committees and positions in the past. Locally, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Gilford. In his life, Harold enjoyed traveling, photography, antique cars, (he owned a 1950 Dodge Coronet for years) lighthouses and numerous pets. He loved to talk and could strike up a conversation with anyone even when the dementia worsened.

In addition to his parents and grandparents, He was predeceased by his first wife, Helen (Johnston) Peaslee, an infant son, David James Peaslee.

He is survived by his wife, Marcia (Smith) Peaslee of Laconia, two daughters; Valerie Van Meier and her husband Tom of Nelson, NH and Brenda Wilson of Keene, two grandchildren, Alicia Irwin of Sacramento, CA and Krystoffer Adams and his wife Elyse of Keene, two great-grandchildren; Blake and Lauryn of Keene, a stepson, Kevin Zimmerman of Laconia and a stepdaughter, Marisa Zimmerman of Bradenton, FL and two step grandchildren; Elizabeth and Francesca of Bradenton, Fl.

There will be no calling hours. A private graveside service will be held at the Church Cemetery in Orange, NH. .

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1 Bedford Farms Drive, Suite 105, Bedford, NH 03110.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com .