Vernon "Skeet" Stauffeneker Jr.

1946 - 2026

Vernon 'Skeet' Stauffeneker, Jr.

Rindge, NH - Vernon Floyd Stauffeneker Jr., 79, known as 'Skeet' to most, passed away on March 4th, 2026 at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, New Hampshire. After a brief battle with various illnesses, he passed away peacefully while surrounded by family and friends.

Skeet was born on May 26th, 1946, in Cortland, New York to his parents, Vernon Stauffeneker Sr., and Lila Niemi. He was one of 8 children that included 2 boys and 6 girls.

Skeet attended Ithaca High School where he met the love of his life, Katherine Mary Robinson. The two were married on May 9th, 1964, in Dryden, New York, just a few weeks before his 18th birthday. After the wedding, the couple relocated to southern New Hampshire where they welcomed their first child, a daughter, later that year. This was the first of many and the beginning of Skeet and Kathy's family legacy.

As a young husband and father, Skeet worked in multiple fields to support his family. His career included being a brick layer, a police officer, and a supervisor where he managed the construction of many commercial buildings all over the Northeast. In 1992, Skeet and a business partner purchased a fiberglass factory in Northeastern Vermont, where he became a resident for nearly 30 years, before ultimately relocating back to southern New Hampshire for the remainder of his days.

There are many things that made Skeet a tremendously special man that will be remembered fondly by many. He was known to have a tough and stubborn exterior, but those who knew him know that inside he was a kind, caring, gracious, and protective man who loved his wife and children more than anything else. He had a great sense of humor and a belly laugh that could fill a room, always making it difficult not to laugh along with.

While he was an extremely hard-working man that insisted on nothing being done half-way, he was also an avid outdoorsman during his downtime. He loved to hunt and fish and enjoyed that time in the woods, or on the water, with his closest friends and family. He loved sports. He was proud of his athleticism and enjoyed competing in his younger years. He loved watching and rooting for the New York sports teams that he grew up with, but even more than that he loved watching his children, and then grandchildren, compete in the sports of their choosing. While he was reserved about his own accomplishments, he was less shy while sharing stories with others about the accomplishments of his children, on or off the field, always with a big smile to show just how proud of them he was.

Skeet is survived by his wife, Kathy Stauffeneker; children, Tracy Seppala, Annette (David) Onkalo, Dutch (Kristen) Stauffeneker, Emily (Larry) Questad, Gretchen (Jon) Hill, Betsy (Dan) Lambert, Ester (Daniel) Lawn, Diane (David) Bilodeau, Andrea (John) Gould, Chris (Sonia) Stauffeneker; grandchildren (57); great-grandchildren (76); siblings, Linda Coleman, Eileen Seppala, Pete Stauffeneker, Janice Parkonen, Amy Troxell.

He was preceded in death by parents, Vernon and Lila Stauffeneker; siblings, Anne Olson, Sheila Sauvola; children, Marjorie Mattila; sons-in-law, Mark Mattila, Bradley Seppala; grandchildren, Max Mattila, Katie Mattila, Marcie Mattila, Adam Mattila; great-grandchild, Indie Hill;

Calling Hours will be held at Hope Fellowship Church, 16 Prescott Road, Jaffrey, NH on Friday, March 13, 2026, from 4:00pm to 5:00pm.

A funeral service will immediately follow calling hours, beginning at 5:00pm. Burial will take place at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Skeet's name to the Community Hospice House located at 210 Naticook Road, Merrimack, NH 03054.

To share memories, photographs and condolences with Skeet's family, please visit www.cournoyerfh.com.