LACONIA ---- John E. Gauthier, 104, a resident of Laconia, passed away on Sunday, July 7, 2024, at the St. Francis Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. John had resided in his top floor “Bird House” at the Bishop Bradley Senior apartments surrounded by friends and caring staff for the last 11 years.
John was born June 30, 1920 to Oscar and Pearl (Cross) Gauthier, but was raised by “the two most wonderful people” his grandparents, Perley and Josephine Cross.
After graduating from LHS, John was employed by Pratt & Whitney in Hartford, CT, leaving there in 1942 to enlist in the Army as a private. Hoping to be a pilot, he was accepted at OCS, as all aviators were required to be at the rank of an officer. He graduated with the rank of Second Lieutenant, started his pilot training, and finishing as a fighter pilot. His military career didn’t end with the war, as he maintained Active Reserve Status for almost 30 years, retiring formally as a Lt. Colonel. During his yearly reserve tour, he was stationed at Hanscom AFT. His love of flying kept him airborne for 42 years, with his last pilot-in-charge flight at age 84 at the controls of his last plane, a Mooney 201SE. His last plane flight was followed by his last parachute jump from 14,000 feet in Lebanon, Maine, while Allan and Betty watched and prayed.
While stationed at Napier Field in 1944, John’s military posting in WWII, he married the blue-eyed girl that he met when she sat behind him in the first grade in Laconia, Katharine Harriman. Their first child, JoAnne, was born in Dothan, AL, in 1945. Their son Allan was born in Laconia in 1949.
John’s business career started in 1949 when he started working for Walter Woodward as an auto sales representative. In 1954 he purchased Woodward’s Chrysler-Woodward’s GMC Truck, and then began an entrepreneurial career that spanned over 50 years. During this time, he was chairman of NHADA, founding with 4 other dealers the NH Auto Dealers Workers Comp Trust. While a dealer, he was awarded the NH Time Quality Dealer’s award twice. He was a member of the Chrysler Dealer Council and the GMC Truck and Coach Dealer Council.
John served on many civic boards. He was past president of the Winnipesaukee Ski Club, past Chief of the Belknap Area Ski Patrol, past Director of the Congregational Church of Laconia, LRGH Board member, Trustee at Laconia Savings Bank (BNH), LSB Investment Committee, past President of Union Cemetery Association, Director Laconia Industrial Development Corporation, and Treasurer for 20+ years of the Laconia Airport Authority. John, Rod Dyer, and Wes Colby, in 1972 attained funding to lengthen the runway and taxiway to 5,200 ft. allowing the jet traffic we see today. He also was active in the land lease program at the airport that accommodates the private hangers and industrial buildings surrounding the airport.
In addition to business and civic duties, John found time to fly. For many years, he chartered flights for Winnipesaukee Aviation, and started a daily commuter flight service with Don Vaughn between Laconia and Boston. For the first year, he would leave the house at 5:30am, fly to Logan and back, then go to work at the dealership.
He retired (almost) at the passing of his wife Katharine in 1988, and spent his winters in Naples, FL.
In 1990 John married Louise Niles. He is survived by her children, son Tom and wife Judy, son Tim and wife Ann, daughter Nancy Niles Hall and husband Rick.
John is survived by his son J. Allan Gauthier and his wife Elizabeth (Dupont) Gauthier and son-in-law Mark Whitticom, his grandchildren Nathaniel Gauthier and fiancée Clair Biner of Salt Lake City, UT, Bethany Gauthier Gresh and husband Brian Gresh of Chagrin Falls, OH, and Jessica Dade of Alton, NH, and great-grandchildren Mila Elizabeth Gresh, Alec Merrick Gresh of Chagrin Falls, OH and Katharine Dade of Alton, NH.
He was predeceased by his wife Katharine (Harriman) Gauthier, second wife Louise (Niles) Gauthier, daughter JoAnne (Gauther) Whitticom and sister Louise (Gauthier) Mitchell.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, July 22, 2024 at 11:00am at the Congregational Church of Laconia, 69 Pleasant Street, Laconia.
Burial will follow at Union Cemetery, Academy St. (Please use the Garfield Street entrance due to construction on Academy Street), Laconia, NH.
For those wishing to remember John, the family suggests donating to the Activities Fund at St. Francis/Bishop Bradley, 406 Court St., Laconia, NH 03246 or to Honor Flight New England, PO Box 16287, Hooksett, NH 03106.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.