M/Sgt. Donald "Smokey" Nadeau USAF (Ret.)

ROCHESTER - M/Sgt. Donald "Smokey" Nadeau, USAF (Ret.), 72, of Rochester, N.H., died Monday, October 5, 2016, at the Hyder Family Hospice House in Dover, N.H. He was born in Winchester, Mass., October 15, 1943, the son of Leslie and Helen (MacLean) Nadeau.

Donald is a retired veteran of the United States Air Force, having served 20 years with many tours of duty including Okinawa, Korea and California. His first four years in the Air Force he was a Fire Protection Specialist, where he received the nickname "Smokey" which, he has been lovingly known as since. The remainder of his military career was spent as a Munitions System Supervisor. Smokey retired from the Air Force with the rank of Master Sergeant in 1984 at Pease Air Force Base in Newington, N.H.

After retiring, Smokey worked for several years at Sumner Printing in Somersworth, N.H., and most recently he enjoyed the interactions with customers when delivering meals from The Kitchen Eatery & Catering in Portsmouth. His coworkers there become like family to him.

He was a member of the American Legion Post # 8, Dover, N.H., Portsmouth Post # 168, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge # 97 in Portsmouth, N.H., and the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge # 443 in Dover.

Smokey was an avid sports fan. He loved the Bruins, the Red Sox and the Patriots. He was a true New Englander.

Donald is survived by his wife Deborah and his two children Troy Nadeau and his wife Patty, and Tammy Hart and her husband Kevin along with his three grandchildren Hunter, Ayden and Rhegan Hart. He also leaves behind his brother Lawrence Nadeau and his wife Millie, his special cousin Bobby MacLean and his wife Willie, the mother of his children, Patricia Copeland, his brother-in-law Frederick Perkins and wife Karin, Mike Perkins and wife Sheila, sister-in-law and private nurse Donna Cady and husband Mike, sister-in-law Dorothy Perkins, brother-in-law Mark Perkins, brother-in-law John Perkins and wife Lynne also, several nieces and nephews who loved their uncle Smokey dearly and his four legged children, Jessie and Rascal. Smokey also leaves many, many friends.

He was predeceased by his parents, Leslie and Helen Nadeau and his mother-in-law Iris M. Perkins.

The family would like to thank Dr. Sonneborn and all the staff at Seacoast Cancer Center in Dover, N.H.

SERVICES: A Celebration of Life with military honors will be held at 4 p.m., Wednesday, October 12, at the Elks Lodge (Durham Road) in Dover. All of Smokey's family and friends are invited to attend.

Memorial contributions in Smokey's name may be made to the Hyder Family Hospice House, 285 County Farm Rd., Dover, N.H., 03820.

The Cremation Society of New Hampshire has been entrusted with Smokey's arrangements.