John T. LaBrecque

SANBORNTON - John T. LaBrecque, 83, a longtime resident, died unexpectedly but peacefully Sept. 5, 2011, at home.

He was born on June 19, 1928, in Northumberland, son of Aime and Maude (Martel) LaBrecque.

He spent his youth in the North Woodstock-Lincoln area. Following high school, he went on to receive an electrical engineering degree from Northeastern University. He later moved to Nashua with his wife and children.

He worked as a licensed electrical engineer and as general manager at Sanders Associates in Nashua for more than 25 years, and retired in 1984.

He and his family summered in Sanbornton for several years before moving there permanently 26 years ago.

He enjoyed many hobbies, such as fishing, woodworking and wine making, with the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Dorothy. He loved working his land, vegetable gardening and traveling.

He especially enjoyed gambling with family and friends. John's life was dedicated to helping friends and family and making the quality of everyone else's life around him better. He was cherished and will be missed by many.

 A U.S. Army veteran, John was the recipient of the Army of Occupation Medal, Japan, and later was called back to serve during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal.

He was also a deeply religious man and a parishioner of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Tilton.

 John's family includes his wife of 63 years, Dorothy E. (Curtis) LaBrecque of Sanbornton; children, Patricia LaBrecque-Rechcygl and husband, Dennis, of Sanbornton, James LaBrecque (and wife Kathleen ) and Kathleen Wolf of North Fort Myers, Fla., Annie LaBrecque and husband, Michael Young, of Canaan, Thomas LaBrecque and wife, Lisa, of Sanbornton, Donna Beluska and husband, Vasile, of Perrysburg, Ohio, Cynthia LaBrecque and husband, Gary Courtney, of Sanbornton. His extended family includes son-in-law Ralph Carter and wife, Donna, of Sanbornton; 13 grandchildren: Matthew, Audrey, Andrew, Alexander and Curtis LaBrecque; Katrina, John and Christopher Beluska; Mandy, George and Suzanne Rechcygl; Leah and Zacari Young; 17 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many lifelong friends. He was predeceased by seven brothers: Harold, Elwood, Kenneth, Robert, Edward, Richard and William; and sister, Beatrice; and daughter-in-law, wife of James, Kathleen LaBrecque.

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SERVICES: There are no calling hours planned. A committal service with military honors will be held Friday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m. in the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, 110 D.W. Highway in Boscawen. William F. Smart Sr. Memorial Home of Tilton is handling arrangements.

Memorial donations may be made to the Sanbornton Fire Relief Association, Box 112, Sanbornton 03269. For more information, go to smartfuneralhome.com.