Stephen "Steve" K. Blanchard

Stephen Kenton Blanchard, 77, of Wilton, NH, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on August 12, 2024.

 Steve was born on February 20, 1947 in Nashua, NH at Memorial Hospital to Isaac Kenton Blanchard and Winnifred (Dupell) Blanchard. He attended Wilton Elementary and Junior High. He finished his high school years at High Mowing where he graduated Class of 1965. Class of 1965 from Wilton High always welcomed him to Class reunions as did the alumni of High Mowing. Steve briefly attended Franklin Pierce College before joining the Air Force. 

 Steve married his wife of 57 years Margaret “Peggy “(Beaver) Blanchard of Wilton, just before leaving for Vietnam. On returning from Vietnam, Steve was stationed at Beale AFB in California where he was a crew chief on the SR71 Blackbird spy plane. After serving our country, Steve and Peg returned to New Hampshire, residing in Wilton, where he worked for his father’s business, Blanchard Auto Salvage; moving onto Quinn Brother's Concrete and retiring from Redimix Companies. 

 Steve has volunteered within the community throughout the years on various town committees and boards including school budget committee, planning board, ZBA and Town Selectman. Steve was a member of Milford VFW, Bent Burke Post 10 American Legion of Wilton, and Past Master (twice) of Clinton Lodge #52 of Wilton with membership for 41 years. 

 Some of the many hobbies through Steve’s years have been “a good round of golf”, nightly dinners and cribbage games with Amanda and Randy (which he won the last game!), playing his guitars, a nice drive with his wife in his late father’s ’36 Ford Roadster, spoiling his grandkids (as he referred to as “making memories “). Gathering with his entire family brought him such joy.

 Stephen was predeceased by his parents, Ken and Winnie Blanchard, and brother Scott Blanchard.

 Steve is survived by his best friend and wife Peggy Blanchard; daughter Jennifer Blanchard of NYC, daughter Amanda Blanchard-Bosse and husband Randy Bosse of Wilton; grandchildren Margaret Bell, Ashlynn Blanchard, Alexis Blanchard, Isaac Thomas; three sisters Carolyn and James Quinn, Wendy Blanchard, Heidi and Clint Wilder; sister-in-law Martha Levasseur; three nephews and a niece, with great nieces and great nephews, along with many friends he considered family. 

 The family of Steve Blanchard would like to acknowledge the love and respect that the Hospice team has given both to Steve and our family. Their caring spirits have been a blessing. 

 Steve lived his life like the song by Frank Sinatra “I did it my way” and he did just that till his last days!

 He will be forever missed and live on in our hearts. 

 Memorial visiting hours will be held on Thursday, August 22nd from 5 to 7pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford. A private burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please thoughtfully make donations to Home Health and Hospice Care, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH 03054 or the Bent Burke Post #10, Wilton, NH 03086.