George “Pete” Lemire, former State Representative, passed away, Sunday, March 30th. He was 84 years old. George married the love of his life, Stella (Bergeron) in 1951. They were together for 63 years, and proudly enjoyed their large, beautiful family of 7 children, 23 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Mr. Lemire was a State Representative for Berlin’s Ward 3 for 22 years. George also worked for James River Corporation before retiring in 1990 after 42 years of service. There, he worked on Paper Machine #4 as a Machine Tender. He gained the respect of co-workers and management for his skill and understanding of papermaking, and he negotiated many contracts on behalf of his co-workers as a member of the AFL-CIO. Along with all these duties, George “Pete” was also a Staff Sergeant in the New Hampshire National Guard.
George played bugle in the Joliette Drum Corps in his younger days and continued to love and live life to the fullest. George and Stella built their own home in Berlin where family and friends enjoyed countless gatherings. They spent winters at their Florida home once they were empty nesters, and George continued to be a proud Pepere who delighted in all his grandchildren and great grandchildren. George couldn’t sit still, even in retirement, and continued to work part-time as a guard for Wackenhut Security in Tampa, Florida. One of his favorite assignments was security guard for the Florida State Fair.
George had many interests including watching hockey with his wife, playing card games with family, and playing pool with his buddies at the Eagles Club in Berlin or with his friends at the neighborhood clubhouse in Florida. Most especially, however, George was an avid golfer both in Berlin and in Florida. He enjoyed and raved about many rounds of golf with his sons and good friend, Ron Kimball.
George will be remembered fondly by his adoring wife Stella of Berlin, NH; daughter Louise and Alain Fortier of Midlothian, VA; son Paul and Mary of Lyndeborough, NH; son Robert and Judith of Concord, NH; son Charles and Kristine of Gibsonton, FL; daughter Rachel Nadeau of Berlin, NH; daughter Sylvia and Brian Rasmussen of Berlin, NH; daughter Bernadette and Howard Hrdlicka of Riverside, RI; sister Theresa Riendeau of Berlin, NH; brother Richard Lemire and Stella of Englewood, FL. George also leaves behind his loving grandchildren and great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
George was pre-deceased by his parents Adelard and Alice (Lauze) Lemire, his brothers Albert Lemire, Gerard Lemire, Henry Lemire, and Donald Lemire; his sisters Aline (Lemire) Boucher, Rita (Lemire) Girard, and Jeanne Lemire; and his grandson Peter Lemire.
Mr. Lemire was a communicant of St. Anne’s Church, now Good Shepherd Parish Church, Berlin, NH. Family and friends may pay their respects from 6-8PM, Tuesday, April 8 at Bryant Funeral Home, 180 Hillside Avenue, Berlin, NH. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Wednesday, April 9 at 10:00AM at Good Shepherd Parish followed by interment at Mount Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society in memory of George Lemire.