Bernard Kohout

1922 - 2025

Bernard Kohout

Bristol, NH - BRISTOL, NH ---- On Friday, January 17, 2025, Bernard (Bud) Francis Kohout, 102, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family.

Bud was born December 1, 1922, in Fort Dodge, Iowa to the late Thomas and Mary (Rodenborn) Kohout, the oldest of nine children. An avid learner, he attended Sacred Heart School in Fort Dodge and became the first in his family to attend college. Bud discovered a talent for linguistics, mastering three languages and graduating from the University of Iowa in 1942. He served in the US Navy during WWII before spending the rest of his career with the National Security Agency (NSA).

Bud married the love of his life, Francine Lecointe of Monaco, in 1952 and they settled in the greater Laurel, Maryland area where they raised their only daughter Catherine.

Bud's love for tennis, his favorite pastime, and other hobbies such as skiing, travel, and bridge fostered many friendships over the years. After retiring, he fully enjoyed his golden years, pursuing his educational, religious, and athletic passions.

The family then moved to the Newfound Lake area of New Hampshire, with Bud and Francine wintering in Hilton Head, South Carolina. He spent much of his later life combining his academic mind and love of research with his strong Roman Catholic faith. He stayed active late in life, walking and golfing into his nineties.

Bud was a generous and loving husband, father, son, and brother. He is survived by his daughter Catherine and son-in-law David W Tetreault, grandson David J Tetreault, all of Bristol, NH, granddaughter Gabrielle Tetreault, of Boston, MA, sister Patricia Ryan of Le Mars, IA, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years Francine and siblings, Robert, John, Margaret, Thomas, Sister Mary Andrée, and William Kohout, and Elizabeth Hermes.

Bud's family would like to sincerely thank the Lakes Region Visiting Nurses Association and Live Free Home Health Care for their generous help in his final stages of life. Memorial Contributions may be made in his honor to any of the following: Catholic Charities, 100 William Loeb Dr. Unit 3, Manchester, NH 03109, the Lakes Region Visiting Nurses Association, 186 Waukewan St #6023, Meredith, NH 03253, or Speare Memorial Hospital, 16 Hospital Rd., Plymouth, NH 03264.

There are no calling hours.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Friday, January 24, 2025 at 11am, at St. Matthew Church of Holy Trinity Parish, 11 School St., Plymouth, NH.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/Emmons Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com and emmonsfuneralhome.com.