Wakefield, NH

Parker Vanderhoof, 87, passed away peacefully in the presence of his family on January 26, 2017 at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NH.

Parker was born on October 9, 1929 in Concord, MA, son of Philip W. and Harriet (Parker) Vanderhoof and had been a resident of Acton MA for many years where he raised his family with wife Donna (Chaffee). Parker graduated from Concord High School in 1948 and attended Bryant & Stratton Business School.

Because of World War II, he enlisted with the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in South Dakota and Morocco. Upon completing his military service, he was employed at his family's hardware store in Concord MA working under the mentorship of his father, Philip, and then became a mentor for his own son Scott who now operates the 113-year-old store.

During his years of owning the family business, he was also a member of Concord Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors for Standard Hardware Distributors, Member of Acton Minutemen Revolutionary Marching Group, Life Member of Concord Musketaquid Sportsmen's Club, Corinthian Masonic Lodge for 65 years, Power Squadron, and Concord Lions Club, with which he transferred his membership to Wakefield Lions Club totaling his 56 years.

Upon his retirement of 50 years in the hardware business, Parker and Donna retired to their lakehouse. Parker started a new endeavor as a realtor where he worked with Hayes and Seven Lakes Real Estate in Wakefield NH as well as providing his locksmith service.

He continued his community service within the Wakefield area with the Wakefield Zoning Board, Wakefield Bearded Wonders (non-profit organization for Hospice of Carroll County), Bektash Shriners Mini Patrol, Board of Directors for Great East Lake Improvement Association, member of Prudential Building Committee of First Congregational Church of Wakefield, as well as an Honorary Member of Parish Helpers. He was instrumental in helping others in many ways including setting up for The Treasure Shop, church functions, and wood-working projects, as in the band trophy case displayed at the Nute High School in Milton, NH.

Parker is survived by his wife Donna of 62 ½ years, son Robert and his wife Linda (Melanson), son Scott and his wife Jane (Kroon), daughter Sharon and her husband Russell Baldwin, son Parker Jr. (Jay) and his wife Jan (Conklin) and 9 grandchildren (1 predeceased) and 9 great grandchildren.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude for the care Parker received from Fresenius Medical Care and Frisbie Memorial Hospital Intensive Care Unit. They would also like to express thanks to their friends for the help, support and prayers during Parker's illness and many trips to dialysis.

Services: There will be no calling hours. A Memorial Celebration of Parker's life will begin at 11am on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at First Congregational Church of Wakefield, 2718 Wakefield Road, Wakefield NH 03872. Interment will be for the family at a future date in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, MA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Wakefield Lions Club, PO Box 1112, Sanbornville NH 03872; or made payable to Simadi Shrine Club and sent to Richard Perry, Simadi Shrine Club President, 13 Brook Street, Derry NH 03038. All proceeds will be donated to the Shriners Children's Hospitals.