William J. Clark, 78

MILFORD — William J. Clark, 78, passed away peacefully on Nov. 23, 2025.

Born Jan. 18, 1947, in Lowell, Massachusetts, to Weston and Emma (Magnant) Clark, William went on to marry the love of his life, Deborah J. Meisner on Oct. 4, 1969. Even after being together for 58 years, married for 56, they were still each other’s best friend, still very in love, and still loved their life together. He and Debby moved to Nashua, in 1969. They have most recently lived in Milford and Meredith. They also enjoyed their home in Venice, Florida, in the last few years.

William was a brilliant, adventurous, hardworking man with an impressive work ethic and unparalleled integrity which earned him the honor of being the first recipient of the New Hampshire Construction Industry Ethics Award in 1997. He was quite the businessman, starting his first company with his brother in 1969, Clark Bros. Masonry, which later became one of the largest and premier masonry companies in New England. In 1984, he started Merganser Corporation, a general contracting firm. During this time, he also owned Lee Equipment. In 1994, he and Debby started Clark Masonry Construction with Phil Cote. In 2002, he started Turnstone Corporation, a construction management company, with his daughter Stacy. He was also passionate about building affordable housing in the '80s, completing a few well-planned duplex/condo developments. Before starting his career, William served in the Army during the Vietnam War in Germany on a Nike Herc Missile Base which was something he was very proud of.

His community and giving back was extremely important to him. He served as a Building Committee member for the Vocational High School in Milford, four years; Board of Directors, Association of General Contractors, eight years; Board of Directors, Nashua Boys Club, eight years; he was a lifetime Rotarian and loved helping with the Christmas Tree Sale, always participated in the 100 Holes of Golf and the pancake breakfast up until he couldn’t anymore.

His life was his wife, family and his work. His happiness was fulfilled by being with those he loved and those who loved him back; including his family, his friends, his golf buddies and important relationships throughout the construction industry. He was always there for everyone, both family and in industry. He was known as someone you could talk to, confide in, and provide guidance without judgement. He was passionate about his work and doing the right thing. He was intentional in everything he did and did so with purpose and grace.

He loved, loved, loved golf. He was a member of the Nashua, Kingswood, Amherst, and Lochmere country clubs over the years. He competed on an elite curling team in the '80s and '90s traveling all over New England and Canada. He loved being at the lake and all the activities that go along with that, including water skiing until he turned 74, and doing backflips off of the dock and the boat. He loved winter — snow skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing. In the last 15 years, one of his favorite weekends was Family Ice Fishing Weekend. He loved holidays, especially Christmas and the joy of coming together with family, often hosting more than 25 and up to 50 family and friends.

William is survived by his loving wife Deborah (Meisner) Clark, his daughters Mimi Rainford and her husband Gary Rainford and their daughter Meri Rainford of Swan's Island, Maine, Stacy J. Clark of Meredith, Stephanie J. Clark of Hancock, and her sons Emit Bisson and Aspen Bisson, and Matt Darby and his wife Shelyn Darby and their daughter Makenna Darby, who became like a son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter to William and Debby. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

He is predeceased by his parents, Weston and Emma Clark, his mother and father-in-law Helen and Gordon Miesner, his brother Robert Clark and surviving wife Francis (Fran), sister-in-law Mary (Meisner) Ouellette and surviving partner Ellen Svenson, sister-in-law Diane (Meisner) Darby and her husband Kenneth Darby, brother-in-law Gerard Meisner and his surviving wife Jean Meisner, and his daughter, Laura Krantz Tollman, and surviving grandson Colby Tolman.

Visiting hours will be held 1-3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 11, at Mayhew Funeral Home, Meredith, with a Funeral Mass the following day, at 11 a.m., Friday, Dec. 12, at St. Charles Church in Meredith. A private ceremony will be held at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Billy’s name to Milford Rotary Club & Foundation, Milford, or to Share Outreach, Milford.

Special thanks to all the caregivers at Golden View and to his golf buddies both here and in Venice, Florida, for all you did to make sure he continued to play golf. Through your actions you gave him something to look forward to, the feeling of being normal and allowing him to feel like he still had life to participate in through his health decline.

Arrangements are under the care of Mayhew Funeral Homes and Crematorium. To sign the online book of memories, visit mayhewfuneralhomes.com.