Donald S. Casey Obituary

Donald Smith Casey, age 96, died peacefully surrounded by family at Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Jaffrey, NH, on Wednesday, April 20, after struggling for the past several years with Parkinson’s Disease.He was born Dec. 5, 1919 in Leominster, Mass., the son of the late Harry P. and Blanche (Smith) Casey of Leominster.  He is pre-deceased by brothers Philip and Robert, and sister Arlene (Casey) Fitzpatrick.

He graduated from Leominster High School in 1937 and worked as a machinist at the Cowdry Machine Shop, Fitchburg, Mass.In 1942, he married Lillian E. Guenther (deceased).  Don and Lillian lived in Fitchburg until 1966, where they raised their two children, Donna M. and Dennis W., before relocating to New Ipswich, NH in 1966.

Don entered the U.S. Navy in late 1943, and served as a Machinists Mate 2nd Class until 1946.  Upon returning to civilian life, he worked for Crocker Burbank Paper Mill, Fitchburg, Mass. and then entered the field of industrial sales, working for Gould Industrial Supply, Leominster, Elwood Adams, Worcester, Mass., Fitchburg Hardware, and Lindco, Worcester, Mass.

As a youth, Don participated in Boy Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.  He was an avid swimmer, diver and served as a lifeguard on Lake Whalom in Leominster, Mass.  During the ‘40’s and ‘50’s, he was a member of the Turner Hall, in Fitchburg, where he met his wife of 59 years, Lillian.  He competed as a gymnast in many Turn Fests earning numerous awards.  During the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, he played volleyball for the Fitchburg YMCA Men’s team.  He was a lifetime woodworker, making and restoring many pieces of furniture.  He also enjoyed Classic Cars and restored a 1929 Model-A Ford sedan.  He was a member of the Lake Shirley (Mass.) Sailing Association and built his own Sun Ray Junior sailboat.  He enjoyed sailboat racing on Lake Shirley on summer afternoons in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s.    He was actively involved with the Masons, of the Charles W. Moore Lodge, Fitchburg, Mass., and the American Legion, Ashby, Mass.  

In his retirement, he continued his craft and enjoyed building and restoring antique firearms especially muzzleloaders.  Don was a member the New Ipswich Antique Fire Brigade and contributed to the restoration of the old hand tub firefighting apparatus.  He had a special love of Early American History and accompanied by his devoted great-grandson Jason, was a regular participate at ‘Rendezvous’, an annual week-long gathering of like-minded folks who enjoy re-enacting the life and times of people living in the colonies.

Don is survived by his daughter, Donna (Casey) Keurulainen and her husband, David, of New Ipswich, NH, his son, Dennis Casey and his wife Susan (Ambrose) of Rindge, NH, granddaughters Linda Gerard of New Ipswich, NH, Lisa Meyer of Gardner, Mass., grandsons David A. Keurulainen and his wife Christina of New Ipswich, NH, Eric Casey and his wife Jennifer of Concord, NH, and Philip Casey of Stratham, NH; great-grandson, Jason Dane, New Boston, NH, and great-granddaughters Sophia and Savannah Keurulainen, New Ipswich, NH; several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway Suite 15029, New York, NY 10018, www.pdf.org.

A memorial funeral service will be held at Bosk Funeral Home, Fitchburg, Mass. on Saturday, April 30.  at 11:00 A.M.. A graveside ceremony with military honors  will take place at Forest Hill Cemetery following the funeral. 

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