Donald J. "Donnie" Provencher, 70, of Gorham, passed away on July 20, 2015 at his home suddenly. He was born in Berlin on June 25, 1945 the son of the late Alfred D. and Lillian M. (Dubie) Provencher and was a lifelong resident of Gorham. He graduated from Gorham High School, was the caretaker of the Gorham Historical Society for many years, was active in the 4th of July Committee and was instrumental in developing the Train Museum. He was a member of the Gilead Historical Society, the B & M Railroad Historical Society, the Mystic Valley Railroad Society, the 470 Club, the Gorham Economic Development Committee, the NH Railroad Revitalization Association, the Mass Bay Railroad Enthusiasts and was the Transportation Coordinator for Ray Burton. Donald was also a member of Holy Family Church, the Fur, Feather & Fin Club, was instrumental in bringing Operation Life Saver to NH in 1983, was an auxiliary police officer for the Gorham and Whitefield Police Departments and was an avid train buff. He had been employed at Converse Rubber Company prior to dispatching for the NH State Police Troop F for 20 years and the Gorham Police Department. To quote Bobby Chapman, “The town of Gorham has suffered a huge loss, as well as the railroad community.”
Family includes his sisters Linda A. Blanchette and husband Donald of Weare, NH and North Port, FL, Lisa M. Sankiw and husband John of Gorham, NH and Lauralee Lamontagne and husband Jeffrey of Manchester, NH; nieces and nephews Alex, Taylor and Adam Lamontagne and Noah and Amanda Sankiw; an aunt Agnes Brault of Gorham and cousins. He was predeceased by a sister Laurie Ann Provencher.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday August 7, 2015 at 1 PM at the Bryant Funeral Home, 1 Promenade St., Gorham. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 11 AM to 1 PM, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The Don Provencher Memorial Fund, Northway Bank, PO Box 9, Berlin, NH, 03570.