H. John Powell

HAVERHILL — H. John Powell, 60, of Haverhill, died Thursday, March 18, 2010 at the Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill.

John was the son of Evelyn M. (Johnson) and the late Walter R. Powell Sr. John was born in Battle Creek, Mich., where his parents were stationed with the military. Growing up in Haverhill as a young child, John attended Haverhill Public Schools and was a graduate of Haverhill High School, Class of 1967.

A Vietnam War veteran, he enlisted into the United States Army and proudly served his country. He was honorably discharged, earning the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Army Commendation Medal. He was a member of the Haverhill AMVETS post 47.

John was employed by the City of Haverhill as Lieutenant for the Haverhill Fire Department. He served his city for 27 years, retiring in 2003. As most in his line of work, his second job was that of a skilled custom cabinet maker. After retiring from the fire department, he enjoyed a second career at the Home Depot Co. in the Kitchen Design Department at the Plaistow location.

John leaves his mother, Evelyn M. (Johnson) Powell, Gillen, Standing, of East Hampstead, N.H.; his loving companion of 12 years, Paulette S. Noel, of Haverhill; two children, Lance M. Powell and his wife, Hope O. (Perkins), of Haverhill; a daughter, Mara E. (Powell) Perlack and her husband, Dale J., of Dracut, their mother, Susan M. (Cerasuolo) Powell, of Haverhill; his extended family, Tara L. Hatfield, of Plaistow, Shawn Hatfield, of Bradford; brothers and their wives, Kevin J. and Susan M. (Tremblay) Powell, of Plaistow, John E. "Eddie" and Tammi (LaChappelle) Gillen, Tyler J. Powell; sisters and their husbands, Jeanne (Powell) and Joseph Ferguson, Derorah J. (Powell) Dinges, and Tarri LaChappelle, all of the Bradford section of Haverhill; seven grandchildren, Emma, Samuel, Elizabeth, and Ally Powell, Dale Perlack Jr, Christian and Julia Hatfield; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Walter R. Powell Jr.; brother-in-law, Robert Dinges; and stepfather, John Gillen. He will be missed by his best little buddy, Jake.

ARRANGEMENTS: Friends and family are respectfully invited to call on Sunday, March 21, from 2 until 6 p.m. at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St. (Route 125), Haverhill. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 22, at 10 a.m. in the First Baptist Church, 217 Main St., Haverhill. Burial will follow with Fire Department and Military Honors in the Firefighters Memorial Section of Linwood Cemetery, Mill Street, Haverhill. www.comeaufuneral.com.