John C. Sandeen

John C. Sandeen, affectionately known as Papa to his grandkids, lived a long life of 91 years filled with a deep love for his family and friends. John was born October 28, 1934 in Oak Park, Illinois, to his loving parents, Ernest & Evelyn Sandeen.

He was a man of faith, a man of music, who loved being in nature, whether that was hiking and skiing in the mountains, boating, sailing and water skiing on his beloved Lake Winnipesaukee, or walking with his dogs while hoping to spot a bald eagle flying overhead. He could fix computers, cars, boats, or just about anything around the house. He was persistent, tenacious, and believed there is a solution to any problem. He was an excellent listener and a great counselor. We will deeply miss his thoughtful and wise advice.

He was also a hard working man, dedicated to achieving any goal set at work or at home. He had a long and very successful career of 37 years with IBM Corporation, starting as a technician, working on the then top secret SAGE computer system at MIT Lincoln Labs, moving into sales and financial management roles, and finally leading strategy for office systems at IBM headquarters.

John's love of music started early, singing in Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore in high school, to barbershop quartets in college, and church choirs his entire life. John was also a huge supporter of music in Wolfeboro. He was the Clearlakes Chorale president for three years and loved singing with the Chorale for over 30 years. John worked with the Great Waters Music Festival for ten years starting in 1995, putting up the tent and helping organize events. He also worked with, supported and loved Wolfeboro Friends of Music.

John loved libraries. He helped Brewster Academy redesign their library for the laptop era. He was a founding member and president for many years of the Wolfeboro Public Library Foundation. He was an amazing fund raiser for the Wolfeboro Library expansion and renovation project. He met the second love of his life, Dianne Wasmuth, while working on library projects and was adopted into her loving family for the last five years of his life.

John passed peacefully, surrounded by family and friends on February 20, 2026 at the age of 91. John always faced every challenge with optimism and brought that hope with him on every step of his journey. John often said 'It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness'. He brought light and love to everyone he knew and to every challenge.

John was born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois where his family attended River Forest Bible Chapel. He graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois (1956) and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Masters in Management in 1963. He met his wife Evangelyn (Johanson) at Wheaton College and they were married on June 23rd, 1956. After college, John and his family lived in Bedford, MA from 1956 – 1958, Saugerties, NY where they attended Grace Community Church from 1958 – 1963, Elmhurst, IL where they attended First Baptist Church from 1963 – 1970, and Wilton, CT where they attended Wilton Presbyterian Church from 1970 – 1986. John and Evangelyn moved to Wolfeboro, NH in 1986 where they attended First Congregational Church and All Saints Church.

John is survived by his dedicated and loving partner, Dianne Wasmuth of Wolfeboro, NH, his son Mark Sandeen and daughter-in-law Lisa of Lexington, MA, his daughters Julie Sandeen of Ashford, CT, and Janice Sandeen of Taos, NM and his grandsons, Andrew Sandeen Bennett, Noah Sandeen Bennett (Claudine), Zachary Sandeen Bennett, Samuel Sandeen, and granddaughter Arianna Sandeen Kohler (Chad). John was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Lois Evangelyn Sandeen, his brother Ernest Robert Sandeen, sister Marjorie Evelyn Sandeen, and his parents, Ernest Theophil Sandeen and Evelyn Emma Sandeen.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday April 25, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at First Congregational Church, 115 South Main Street, Wolfeboro, NH 03894, with a reception at the church to follow.

Donations in John's memory can be made to the Wolfeboro Public Library Foundation, Clearlakes Chorale, or Wolfeboro Friends of Music.