Michael E. Theroux

MERRIMACK - Michael E. Theroux, 67, of Merrimack passed away Aug. 17, 2014, at the Community Hospice Center in Merrimack after a long, courageous battle with cancer.He was born in Holyoke, Mass., on March 25, 1947, the son of the late Edward J. and Mary R. (Shea) Theroux of Beaufort, S.C., previously from Amherst and Nashua.Michael was a longtime resident of Merrimack and graduated from Bishop Bradley High School in Manchester in 1965. He attended Manhattan College in the Bronx, New York, for one year before joining the U.S. Marine Corps. During his two years in the Marines, Michael did a 13-month tour of duty in Vietnam, where he attained the rank of corporal.Upon his discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps, Michael went to work for Anheuser-Busch in Merrimack before the plant was even open for the production of beer. He was a faithful employee of that company for 37 years before his retirement in June 2007.Michael married Linda A. Maskiewicz in December 1970.Michael enjoyed sports, and in his younger years, played on many slow pitch softball teams. He was an avid Patriots and Bruins fan. Michael spent most of his early years residing in a Long Island suburb of New York City, where he developed a lifelong love for the New York Yankees.Michael was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8641 in Merrimack and the American Legion Post 9 in Derry. He was passionate about his work with and for the VFW. He served in numerous capacities at his local VFW Post in Merrimack, including quartermaster, senior vice commander and surgeon. At the Department (state) level, in 2011-2012, Michael served as special aide-de-camp for the past national commander-in-chief of the VFW, Richard Denoyer, and as sergeant-at-arms at 2012, 2013 and 2014 Department conventions. At the time of his death, Michael was the current sergeant-at-arms of the Department of New Hampshire VFW for 2014-2015 year.Members of his family include his wife, Linda A. Theroux; daughter Audra C. Theroux of Merrimack; daughter and son-in-law April and David Wisler of Manchester; grandson Dominic Theroux of Merrimack; and sister Mary Ellen Theroux of Beaufort, S.C..

SERVICES: Calling hours will be at the Rivet Funeral Home, 425 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack, on Sunday, Aug. 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, Aug. 25, at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Merrimack with a "Celebration of Life" to follow at the Merrimack VFW. Interment will be at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26.Those who wish may make a memorial contribution to the Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226.For more information or to sign an online guest register, go to rivetfuneralhome.com.