L. William "Bill" Slanetz Jr.

L. William “Bill” Slanetz, 88, of Chapman Road, Keene, NH, passed away at his home, surrounded in love by his family, on Friday, March 03, 2017, following a tough battle with cancer. With the great help from Hospice, Bill was able to fulfill his wish to remain at home until his passing.

Born in Enfield, Connecticut on May 18, 1928, Bill was the son of Helen (Colby) and Lawrence W. Slanetz. His family moved to Durham, NH where Bill spent his childhood. He was a 1946 graduate of Dover High School.

He attended the University of New Hampshire where Bill met his future wife, Norma Perkins, on a UNH Outing Club ski trip. Norma took a bad fall and Bill went to the rescue, thus starting a beautiful romance. They both graduated from UNH and were married on February 17, 1951. Of no surprise, the couple went skiing on their honeymoon.

Bill’s work career entitled several different opportunities for him. From 1951 until 1957, he was a salesman with the former Central Screw Company in Keene. Taking a two-year leave from work, Bill served in the Army during the Korean War, from September 1952 until September, 1954. He then went to work as a production control manager with MPB Corporation. In 1966, he became President of Perkins Lumber Company in Keene, a position he held until 1983.

Bill also was very active in community affairs including serving 10 years as a Trustee with the former Cheshire County Savings Bank in Keene, and later as a Director with CFX, and the Bank of New Hampshire.

For many years, Bill took summer classes in assessing at the University of Connecticut. This afforded him the opportunity to work in several capacities as a consultant and property assessor for the bank’s loan departments. He was also a member of the City of Keene Board of Assessors and the Keene Zoning Board of Appeals.

Bill loved the city of Keene and spent four years each on the Board of Education and the Keene City Council. He was a volunteer with the Monadnock United Fund and the Friends of Open Spaces as conservation was very important to him.

Many in the area will remember the Christmas tree farm on Chapman Road that Bill and his brother-in-law, Bill Perkins, owned and operated for over 40 years.

Most important to Bill was his family, especially many holiday gatherings at the house. He dug a pond on his property for fire protection. However, if truth be told, the best part of the pond was the many swimming and skating parties with family and friends.

An avid reader, he always had a book by his side. He also enjoyed bridge, gardening, fishing, golf and tennis.

He will be greatly missed by his wife of 66 years, Norma (Perkins) Slanetz of Keene; children, Dianne S. Patenaude and her husband, Forrest, of Spofford, NH, John W. “Jack” Slanetz and his wife, Patrice, of Keene; six grandchildren, Michayla Morton and her husband, Michael, Benjamin McCarthy and his wife, Sylvie, Jason McCarthy, Carolynn Patenaude, Melissa Slanetz, Tyler Slanetz; two great-grandchildren, Marissa Morton and Gavin Morton; a daughter-in-law, Sarah Slanetz of Dominica; a sister, Caryl S. Carle and her husband, Dick, of Londonderry, NH; a sister-in-law, Lyn Slanetz of Madison, NH; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, David C. Slanetz in 2004, and a brother, Robert Slanetz.

A celebration of Bill’s life and memorial will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 11:30AM in the United Church of Christ, 23 Central Square, Keene. Burial in the Woodland Cemetery, Keene, will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill’s memory to the United Church of Christ Steeple Restoration Fund, 23 Central Square, Keene, NH 03431; or to Patient Care Needs of Hospice, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431-0564.