John P. Hansel

Walpole, NH - John Parker Hansel, 100, of Walpole passed away peacefully at his home on March 27, 2025.

John (JP) was born on September 11, 1924 one of four children of Charles F. and Kathryn (Denman) Hansel in Cranford, NJ. John attended Lawrenceville School and Princeton University where he participated in the Marine Corps V-12 Officers Training program during World War II. He continued his training at Quantico when the war ended. In 1945, he married his childhood sweetheart, Frances Soule and they settled in Riverside, Conn., where they raised five children.

In 1946, John joined his brother, Cap, and his father in the family business, Filtrine Manufacturing Co. in Brooklyn, NY, where he eventually became President, moved the company to Waldwick, NJ, in 1955, then to Harrisville, NH, in 1971, and finally to Keene, NH in 1998. His leadership secured Filtrine's reputation as a leader in drinking water systems and process water chilling with installations in some of the finest buildings in the country including the White House, the United Nations Building and the National Gallery of Art.

John's passion for the American elm inspired him to found the Elm Research Institute in 1967 to fight the Dutch Elm Disease which was killing elm trees all across America. That organization still exists today and has propagated and shipped thousands of resistant trees throughout the country.

After moving the family business to Harrisville, he took on two new projects: installing a water turbine in the old Cheshire Mill and keeping a major highway from being constructed through this rural countryside. He formed No East-West Highway, a community organization which ultimately won a court case against NH DOT which put a stop to their highway expansion plans.

John was an avid sailor. He started a frostbiting series at Riverside Yacht Club with a 10' Dyer Dink that has grown in popularity even to this day. With his first mate, Frannie, and crew of 5 kids, he spent countless days sailing his 42' schooner Billy Bones throughout Long Island Sound and down east. Even after moving inland to Harrisville, he acquired the Billy Bones II and spent as much time as he could sailing the coast of Maine.

John loved to bird hunt, fly fish, ski, raise Norwegian Fjord horses and Devon cattle. He served as a member of the NH Fish and Game Commission. After retiring from Filtrine at age 88, he bought a ranch in Montana - as if he didn't have enough else on his plate.

John is predeceased by his beloved wife of 71 years, Frannie, and countless other close friends he was proud to know. He leaves behind his five children: Carla Hansel and her husband, Scott Young; Parker Hansel and his wife, Sally; Peter Hansel and wife, Bridget; Turner Hansel and his wife, Margie; David Hansel and his wife, Terri; as well as 15 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

There will be a private celebration of John's life later in the spring.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Trout Unlimited (www.TU.org) or Harbor Care New Hampshire Veterans Services (www.HarborCareNH.org/Veteran-Services).

Fletcher Funeral Home of Keene has been entrusted with the arrangements. To express condolences or to share memories of John, please visit www.FletcherFuneralHome.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Monadnock Ledger-Transcript on Apr. 8, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for John Hansel

6 Entries

Debbie Spoon

May 25, 2025

I am so sorry to hear of Mr. Hansel's passing. I worked for Filtrine.

Jim Jackson

April 9, 2025

When I was 22, I started calling on John and the Filtrine. I worked for Holmes Distributors, and Filtrine at that time was our largest customer. John used to call personally at around 4:45PM each day to place the order for automation and electrical products (I believe this was just before the fax machine). John is a legend... and I am honored to be able to say I knew him and had great respect for John and his family.

Carol Staples Sorrels

Planted Trees

Carol Staples Sorrels

April 1, 2025

My sincere condolences to the entire Hansel family during this time of great loss. Your father, grandfather, and great grandfather, was loved and admired by many, including the Staples family.
Of the many friends my parents had, Mr. Hansel was one that I was especially fond of, even as a little girl. He always greeted me kindly when he saw me at the Riverside Yacht Club (usually with my dad), and I remember him well at the parties my parents would give. He would take the time to joke with me and thank me for passing the hors d'oeuvres. And I also loved Frannie, the sweetest mom in town. (How did she raise all those boys?)
My father always spoke fondly of his good friend, John Hansel, with whom he shared his love of sailing, fishing, and hunting. They were like-minded in many ways, including in their dedication to nonprofits they cared about. My father would update me on his good friend's endeavors with an admiring tone, which was always interested me. I used to wonder if Mr. Hansel would ever really "retire." And of course he never did retire from doing the things that mattered to him and to so many others. And he will never be forgotten.
You are all in my prayers.

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Jacqueline Marcott

April 1, 2025

"May the angels take you in to paradise, may the martyrs come to welcome you on your way and lead you into the Holy City" God bless and and embrace your family.

Phil Staples

April 1, 2025

So saddened to hear of the passing of Mr Hansel, as I always referred to him. He was a close friend of my father´s, John Staples, especially back in the early days in Riverside, CT, where they spent many years hunting, fishing and sailing together. John Hansel was a delightful and caring man, and such a great patriot who truly loved this country and did all he could to leave it better place than he found it. He was certainly on the cutting edge of the greatest generation and his many contributions will be sorely missed, but not forgotten! On a personal note, one of my earliest memories of John Hansel was as a small boy back in Riverside. On one summer evening as a 5 year old, I was in my pj´s after a small dinner party my folks had with John and Frannie in attendance. As I made the rounds to say goodnight, Mr Hansel pulled me up on his knee, and as I looked at his big smile I noticed a cleft in his chin, something I´d never seen before. I inquired and was quickly drawn into a fascinating story about Captain Hansel´s Calvary days fighting the Indians! I learned that a tomahawk was thrown and hit him square on the chin! That made so much sense, I thought. But why are all the grownups around me laughing at this story? So here´s a salute to you dear John. Thank you for all your love and appreciation toward my parents and family and the many other lives you enriched by your own.
With deep respect and admiration,
Phil Staples

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