James J. Keegal, 89

BELMONT — Just a few days short of his 90th birthday, James Joseph “Jim” Keegal, of Union Road, passed away at home on Feb. 25, 2025, with his daughter and amazing team of caregivers by his side. A true New England Yankee, he gave it his all and remained strong to the end.

Jim was born on March 1, 1935, the son of the late Joseph A. Keegal and Sophia D. (Dobrinski) Keegal.

Even as a youngster, Jim was always working on one project or another, engineering what he needed as he went along. His love for all things mechanical came from working in his father's automotive service garage. After his service in the Army with the 1st Armored Division (Old Ironsides), Jim went on to pursue a career in education as an industrial arts teacher specializing in automotive, metal fabrication, welding, drafting, etc. His first tenure was in Wayne, New Jersey, and then after moving to New Hampshire in 1972, his career continued at Winnisquam Regional High School. He is remembered by many students as that one teacher who changed their lives and set them on a path for success. Jim was ahead of his time in that he made the trades vogue, especially those in the industrial arts field. A quote from the 1964 Wayne Valley High School (New Jersey) sums up Jim’s mission, “Educating the builders of tomorrow in theory and skill and learning the technique of manual crafts in the shop.”

When he was not teaching or working in his personal machine shop, Jim could be found working in his vegetable gardens, bringing in the hay crop, cutting wood, attending military vehicle rallies and snuggling his beloved huskies.

He is survived by his son Ken Keegal and his wife Alethia of Eugene, Oregon; daughter Joyce Keegal of Brentwood; three grandchildren, Tim Smith and Caleb Smith of Brentwood, and Macinzie Keegal of Eugene, Oregon; sister Barbara Brownson of San Rafael, California; two nieces, Lori Brownson of Dunedin, New Zealand, and Jennifer Brownson of Arizona; brother-in-law Norman J. Pierce Jr. of Belvidere, New Jersey; and his beloved best doggie ever, Coal the Husky Dog.

Burial will be held at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Hwy, Boscawen, at a later date.

A celebration of his life will be planned for later in the summer of 2025.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your favorite veteran organization(s).

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