Ira H. Storrs, 82

LACONIA — Ira H. Storrs (fondly known as Joe), 82, passed away on Dec. 9, 2025, from complications of diabetes and pneumonia.

He was born on Jan. 8, 1943, in Wilmington, New York, to Reginald and Lou (née Hardy) Storrs. He was raised on a dairy farm owned by the famous painter Rockwell Kent, and lived the idyllic life of a country boy until he moved at 17 with his father to York, Maine, where his father ran the York Wild Animal Forest Park. He later moved to Gonic, and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1960.

After high school, Joe worked in the grocery department of both Jerry’s Shop & Save and Dan’s Star Market in Rochester, before becoming a salesman for Wise Chips. He then worked for Standard Coffee in Texas for 14 years before retiring from that job.

Upon this initial retirement, Joe and his wife, Debbie, moved back to New Hampshire to be near their families, settling in Laconia. Joe was not done working yet, performing handyman and construction for Laconia Clinic. Both he and his wife retired from the clinic in 2013.

Joe and Debbie loved camping, enjoying many quiet spots in New Hampshire and Maine, as well as doing winter camping in Texas. They eventually sold their camper and spent many happy hours traveling in their Mini Cooper, sometimes putting on several hundred miles a day.

Joe had a passion for gardening and had great success wherever he lived. Happiness to him was planting, weeding and picking the fruits of his labor. Some of his tomato plants in Texas grew to at least 6 feet high.

Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Debbie. He is also survived by his daughters, Vicki (Tom) Cook and Traci (Marc) Carvalho, both of Rochester, and his son David (Kim) of Bedford. He leaves behind his sister, Florence Sigman of Mississippi; as well as five grandchildren, Evan (Katie) Cook, Kristyn (Brian) Nereson, Kylie (Matt) Boulton, Aaron Carvalho and Madison (Cam) Tkalcic; and several nieces and a nephew. Also surviving Joe are his great-grandchildren, Maya, Willia and Hudson Cook, Teddy, Simon, Vera and Louis Nereson, Lily and Charlotte Carvalho.

A celebration of life will be held at Briarcrest Estates, 100 Diamond Place, in January 2026.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations in Joe’s name be made to Granite VNA, 30 Pillsbury St., Concord, NH 03301.

The family would like to give a special "thank you" to Kendra and Heidi of Granite VNA for their compassionate care through the past year.

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