Norman Bernard Harper

With heavy hearts, the family of Norman B. Harper announces his passing on May 23, 2018 at the age of 94. He was a kind and loving guide to his family and a mentor to them and many others. He was the fourth and last child born to Louis and Helen (Magee) Harper on Dec. 11, 1923 in Elliot Community Hospital in Keene, NH and lived in Keene his whole life. He thought it a wonderful community to raise a family in where they could be near and engaged with a large number of relatives.

Norman was a hard worker from childhood and as a boy and teen had worked on his Uncle Leon’s farm, Laurence Leather, one of the many local box shops, repaired antique furniture as well as driving a school bus daily before school started when he was in high school. He timed his last morning run so he could leave the bus at Central Square and race to Keene High on Washington St. to get inside just as the bell rang. He loved the outdoors and, though he hunted, he loved fly fishing best. He spent many hours fishing on Silver Lake and many other local ponds, streams and lakes. He knew just where to find the fish he was after in each season and place.

While at Keene High, he excelled in athletics and was president of his class all four years. Football was his favorite sport and memories of playing with some of the best student players KHS produced stayed with him forever. He showed a natural ability for leadership that was recognized by many - even school board members at the time. He also met and fell for a beautiful classmate named Maria Olivo.

When he graduated, he was already in service to his country. He was assigned to the US Army Amphibious Corp, after showing that native leadership, an aptitude for math and a strong sense of direction. He was trained at Cape Cod, Pensacola and New Orleans in navigation to skipper a M-630 LCM landing craft in the most challenging environments. He served in Company C, 544th, EBSR in the Pacific Theater of WWII in New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands and others and was in the crucial invasion force of the Philippine Islands at Leyte Gulf and Manila as well as other areas. He always said it must have been the largest landing of the war because the ships of all types stretched beyond what could be seen or counted. Norman was also in the invasion armada headed for Japan when the war suddenly ended.

Norm’s first harsh view of the world at war did not blind him to the beauty of some of his surroundings and it ignited a lifelong curiosity and desire to see the wonders the world had to offer. As soon as he landed in Japan, he wanted to see what he could of the “old” Japan, knowing it would be changed forever by American occupation. He and a few friends went immediately to Kyoto - not knowing what they would face in the country, but willing to take a chance - to see the ancient and traditional place of religious and royal buildings and sites. They found themselves nearly alone in these special places except for a few terrified guards. They may have been the first outsiders to see such private, royal places as the famously beautiful gardens at the palace.

When he returned home after the war, he married his beautiful and steadfast Maria on July 8, 1946 at St. Bernard Church in Keene. They had five healthy daughters and one son who, sadly, died in infancy. He was immensely proud of his family and was a loving and dedicated father and husband. He often said that Maria was “my girl in this world” and they adored each other for their lives. Better parents could not be imagined.

Norman was a creative and intelligent man who put those traits to good use in business. He was president of Cheshire Transportation Company for many years. He also founded H & W Tire Company while still running the bus company and later, founded and operated Tire Warehouse which was a new concept in selling and distributing tires. It grew to be the largest tire distributor in New England with over 50 locations and was one of the largest and most successful businesses to originate in Keene.

Norm loved his family, coffee ice cream (which he ate daily!), the ocean, football, milk chocolate, learning new things, politics, pie, photography, world travel, birds and sitting in the warm sun on his porch overlooking his back yard. Some of his well-known “Norm-isms” will echo in our memories: Don’t try to save me any money. Don’t forget to count (your blessings). Don’t bring me an idea that will work, bring me one that can’t fail. Gum dipped. Be careful driving; you’ve got precious cargo. Economics rule the world. Things aren’t important; only people are important.

He will be sorely missed forever by his family, friends, business associates and others he has touched. Norman had a wonderful, dry sense of humor and a gift for understatement. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Maria after 56 years of devotion and their infant son, Norman B. Harper Jr. and his grandson Daniel P. Emerson. He leaves his five daughters, Carol Harper Barnes and her husband, Lewis of Keene, Gail Harper Peters of Keene, Janet Harper Roy and her husband Paul of Biddeford, Maine, Joan Harper Emerson and her husband James of Biddeford, Maine and Holly Harper Dodge and her husband Donald of Exeter. He also leaves 11 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He taught us by example to be honorable, generous and kind. He was a very special man.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in St. Bernard’s Church, 185 Main Street, Keene on Monday, June 4, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. The Very Rev. Alan C. Tremblay, Pastor will be the celebrant. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Joseph cemetery, Main Street, Keene.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene on Sunday, June 3rd from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Flowers will be appreciated or the family suggest that memorial contributions be made in Norman’s name to Cedarcrest, 91 Maple Avenue, Keene, NH 03431.