David M. Henry

David Michael Henry Sr. (Hank), age 63, of Exeter, NH, passed away unexpectedly on January 21, 2026, surrounded by his family. Dave was born on February 26, 1962 in Exeter, NH. He was a loving son to Carol and Clark Henry and was the third of 4 children. He graduated from Exeter High School in 1980 where he played football, basketball, and was a standout and professionally scouted baseball pitcher. When Dave was 22, he became a father, which enriched and shaped his life. He went on to marry his soulmate, Karol, which from his reports, truly made him feel complete. He built his own contracting business and became a renowned carpenter, known for his skill and attention to detail. At 44 years old, Dave went on to start his 18-year bridge building career.

For his entire life, Dave has been a builder. His talent for building, paired with his unrelenting work ethic, hunger to learn, drive to provide, his polar bear-like resistance to the cold, and his "sticktoitiveness" (as he liked to say), all brought him to levels of pure mastery in building. He built roofs, decks featured in magazines, walkways, stairs, and everything both small and large. If Dave seemed as though he was exaggerating his skills, he was actually downplaying his accomplishments. The most important aspect of his building ability was his knack of building a loving relationship. Dave devoted his life to his family
and built them a home. Not only the house in which he lived, but in the safety, security, encouragement, and joy that he provided. Dave built comfort with laughter from his one-of-a-kind goofiness and sense of humor. He was never afraid to make a fool of himself at the price of a good laugh. He built trust with wisdom from a clear perception of the world, earning him a reputation as a voice people relied on when it mattered. He built love with genuine care that came from his enormous heart.

While Dave had a strong, and sometimes stubborn demeanor, he never hesitated nor feared being vulnerable, and always wore his heart on his sleeve. Dave was frequently the first to say "I love you" and would never let you leave without a bear hug. For those that knew him, they never had to question how he felt. Dave was deeply present and offered a level of engagement in conversation that made you feel invited and seen. You'd leave not only feeling better, but feeling connected - to him, to yourself, and to something steadier than whatever you walked in carrying. People like Dave are rare, and when they're gone, you don't just miss them - you miss the version of yourself you were when you're around them.

Dave is survived by his wife, Karol Henry; his children, Dave Henry Jr., Ryan Henry and wife Jessica, Alyssa Henry and fiancé Alex, and Connor Henry; mother, Carol Henry; siblings, Caron Callahan and husband Bill, Clark "Butch" Henry III, Stephen Henry and wife Christyne; grandchildren Lillian and Lane, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, Clark Henry Jr.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, February 1, 2026 from 11am-3pm at the Holy Grail, 64 Main St. Epping, NH. All are welcome to attend and share memories and stories as you wish.