Frederick Thomas Dehner

Frederick Thomas Dehner, 83, retired Major from the U.S. Air Force, who proudly served our country for 20 years, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, went home to the Lord on March 29, 2025. Fred was born in New York City, New York. He was educated in Catholic schools from elementary through college. At Xavier High School in New York, he joined the AFROTC. After graduating high school in 1958, he then attended Manhattan College, where he attained a Bachelor's Degree in Physics.

At Manhattan College, he continued his love for the Air Force and after graduation enlisted. In 1963, his assignments started with Wright Patterson in Dayton, Ohio, then Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where he met his beloved wife, Sandy. In 1969, he was transferred back to Wright- Patterson AFB in Ohio, where he continued his education through the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) receiving a Master's Degree in Weapons Systems Acquisitions. His next assignment brought him to Tinker AFB in Oklahoma with his young bride.

After 18 months in Oklahoma, he was transferred back to Wright-Patterson AFB for the next 7 years. While stationed in Wright-Patterson, Fred and Sandy adopted their son, Frederick William Dehner in 1974 and their daughter, Stephanie Marie Dehner in 1977. Fred finished his Air Force career in a Department of Defense (DOD) assignment at Ft. Belvoir Army Base, Virginia. Upon retirement, the now family of 4 made their way to Nashua, New Hampshire, along with their precious family pets (3 dogs, one bird and a few skinks) for Fred's new job at Sanders Associates teaching Systems Acquisitions. He became very involved in the New Hampshire US First Robotics Program for high school students enjoying this role for many years. At this time, he also began his adjunct career as a professor at local colleges such as Rivier College, Southern New Hampshire University, and at the Community Colleges in Nashua and Manchester, NH. While at Rivier, he taught Statistics and Math courses in the Nursing and Firefighters programs. He was also involved in educating senior citizens through the RISE program as well as teaching business and math courses at the other colleges. Fred attained his second Master’s Degree in Business Administrations through Rivier.

Fred loved collecting things. If you were to look up all about collecting in an encyclopedia, you would find Fred's name. If it could be collected, he probably collected it. Some of his unique collections included coins, stamps, slide rules, typewriters, tools, screws, toy fire trucks, baseball cards, and, of course, trains. Fred would share his love of his collections by going into high school classes and showing them how to use slide rules; bringing train layouts to local preschools at Christmas time; and he shared his love of trains with the Boy Scout Troop from Immaculate Conception Church.

When the family settled in Nashua New Hampshire in 1983, they became members of Immaculate Conception Church. Since then, Fred had been active in the church, always attending the earliest mass on Sundays. Fred was one of the founding members when the Immaculate Conception Knights of Columbus council 13904 was established in 2005. He later became a fourth degree member. Fred attended Sunday and daily masses, where he developed treasured friendships and enjoyed fellowship after Mass.

Fred is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sandra (Yakob) Dehner; children, Frederick William Dehner II and Stephanie (Ken) Parker; his grandchildren, Eostara Dehner, Cassandra Dehner, Elizabeth Parker, William F. Parker and great grandson, Theo Garafalo. He is also survived by his sister, Marie Edmund, as well as several nieces and nephews. 

Fred was predeceased by his parents, Fred and Mary Dehner; sisters, Patricia Stanley and Margaret Thompson; brothers-in-law, Robert Thompson and Roy Edmund; niece, Barbara Stanley and nephew, Leo Stanley.

Services will include viewing on Sunday, April 6, 2025, from 2pm-6pm at the Phaneuf Funeral Home, 26 Kinsley St, Nashua, NH 03060. Mass will be at Immaculate Conception Church, 216 E. Dunstable Rd, Nashua, NH on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 10 am. The funeral mass will be livestreamed by the church for those who are not able to attend in person. After cremation, interment of Fred’s ashes will take place at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, NH with military honors on April 10, 2025, at 10 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that you please consider donating to the Immaculate Conception Church Capital Campaign or the Immaculate Conception Knights of Columbus Council 13904.