Belmont---------Donald F. “Laughing Owl” Newell, 86, of 9 Durrell Mt. Road, died at the Lakes Region General Hospital, Laconia on Wednesday, December 5, 2012.
Mr. Newell was born July 10, 1926 in Dixfield, Maine, the son of Celand T. and Arlene (Boivin) Newell. He had lived in the Lakes Region since 1964 and had been employed at J.J. Nissen for thirty-nine years.
Mr. Newell served in the Merchant Marines during WWII, sailing to England seven times, France, Belgium, Egypt, Suez Canal to Iran, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Cancun, Venezuela and Japan. He was a member of the American Legion, Wilkins-Smith Post No. 1 of Laconia and was a member (#02284) of the Penobscot Indian Nation, Old Town, Maine.
Mr. Newell was a founding member and Elder of the NH Intertribal Native American Council and was a 50+ year member and Ordained Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Survivors include two sons, Peter Newell of Belmont and Michael Newell and his wife, Chris, of Belmont; a daughter, Susan Newell Montmagny, of Lebanon; ten grandchildren, Julie Newell Guarente and her husband, Dan, Jolene Newell Price and her husband, David, Meredith Newell, Wesley Newell and his wife, Hope, Elizabeth Montmagny, Ben Montmagny, Josh Gentes, Kate Gentes, Jay Harris and his wife, Erin, and Jake Long; four great grandchildren, Nicholas Guarente, Kyle Price, Jordanna Price and Emily Louise Newell; a brother, Homer Newell, of Rumford, Maine and a sister, Ruth Holman, of Dixfield, Maine. In addition to his parents, Mr. Newell was predeceased by his wife of sixty-one years, Beverly (Anderson) Newell, in 2008, by a son, Lyn Newell, a grandson, Jerry Newell and by a sister, Elizabeth “Betty” (Newell) Lowe.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, December 7, 2012 from 6:00-8:00PM in the Carriage House of the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 11:00AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1242 Old North Main Street, Laconia, N.H.
Burial will be Monday, December 10, 2012 at 11:00AM at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, N.H.
In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to the Native American Toy Fund, PO Box #111, Candia, NH 03034.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.