Walter L. Riendeau Sr.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Walter L. Riendeau Sr., 72, resident of Lyndeborough, died Jan. 26, 2010 at the Milford Medical Center, Milford.

He was born in Francestown on Jan. 18, 1938, the seventh of 14 children to Jesse A. and Helen F. (Lord) Riendeau.

Mr. Riendeau was a graduate of Falmouth High School, Falmouth, Mass., and attended the University of New Hampshire.

He resided in Lyndeborough for many years and was an active member of his community. He was a past member of the Lyndeborough Planning Board, Zoning Board and a Boy Scout leader. In addition, he twice donated his equipment and time to install the playground at Lyndeborough Central School and was always there to help with other community projects.

Mr. Riendeau had been employed for Holt Brothers in Lyndeborough, Chappell Tractor in Milford, New Hampshire Ball Bearing in Peterborough, Pac-A-More Bearing in Cambridge, Mass., Kubar Bearing in Troy, N.Y., and for many years he owned and operated Riendeau Construction.

He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1955-1959 and was honorably discharged in 1963 from the Air Force Reserves.

Mr. Riendeau was an avid reader and enjoyed metal detecting. In addition, he loved to travel, especially to Florida during the winter months.

He was a loving husband, a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Mr. Riendeau was predeceased by three brothers, Jess Riendeau and Paul Riendeau, Earl Riendeau; and a sister, Marion Searles.

Family members include his wife of 50 years, Martha E. (Kinnvall) Riendeau of Lyndeborough; two daughters and sons-in-law, Lorrie and Russell Haskell, Helen and Paul Gawlik, all of Lyndeborough; two sons and daughters-in-law, Walter L. Riendeau Jr. and Linda of Lyndeborough, Laurence and Elaine Riendeau of Ridgecrest, Calif.; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; six sisters, Mary Gray of Charlestown, Alice Wilson of Columbus, Ind., Jean Rood of Cocoa, Fla., Linda McCormack of Concord, Sheila Knight of Davidson, N.C., and Carol Clark of Stoddard; three brothers, Bruce Riendeau of Loxahatchee, Fla., Ronald Riendeau of Barefoot Bay, Fla., and John Riendeau of New Boston; and many nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours are Friday, Jan. 29, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm St., Milford. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Milford United Methodist Church, 327 N. River Road, Milford, followed by cremation. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Wilton-Lyndeborough-Temple EMS, P.O. Box 584, Wilton, NH 03086 or to the Lyndeborough Fire Department, P.O. Box 159, Lyndeborough, NH 03082. Smith & Heald Funeral Home, Milford, is handling arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com