William W. Duncklee

William W. Duncklee, 73, resident of Milford, NH, died on November 6, 2012 at his home. Bill was born in Lowell, MA on November 14, 1938, first son of William Whittemore Duncklee and Alice (Shaw) Duncklee. He moved to Billerica, MA around 1964, then to Brookline, NH in 1976 and to Milford in 1996. He was educated at the Belvidere School in Lowell from 1943-1952 and graduated from Lowell High School in 1956. He was a graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology, Class of 1960 and U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1980. In addition, he was a member of Wentworth’s Black and Gold Society. Bill was employed by Brox Industries as a civil engineer in 1960. This company had many contracts during the Interstate Highway Program, some of which were parts of I-93, I-495, I-95 and others. Later he became manager of the construction division of the company and retired in 1994. His parallel military career began when he joined the N.H. National Guard in 1960, took basic training at fort Dix, AIT and Ft. Sill and later graduated 2nd LT., field artillery from NH, OCS. In 1968, the battery with which he served in Nashua was activated for service in Vietnam. He served as Executive Office and then Commanding Officer of B battery, 3rd Bn, 197th F.A., and air mobile field artillery unit. The battery returned to Nashua in September of 1969. Bill served 23 years with various artillery units in NH, retiring as Lt. Col. In 1984. Bill was never sure which career (military or civilian), he liked best. He often said of both, “Where else can you have so much fun and get paid for it too”? Duncklee was an avid hiker and among other treks, completed the Appalachian Trail in 1996, trail name “on-the-way”. In later life he hiked and loved the many trails in Milford and lamented the fact that they were so little used by young people. Duncklee was not always P.C. One of his often used expressions was “we need more kids in the woods and fewer hoods on the streets”. If he had a special place in NH, it would be the summit of North Pack Monadnock where he met his life partner, Susan H. Butler. Bill was a member and contributor to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Other interest included hunting, fishing and the shooting sports. He held expert and master qualifications in several rifle and pistol disciplines. Bill served over ten years as a hunter-safety instructor in Peterborough, NH. He was a longtime member at Pinnacle Mountain Fish & Game Club where he served many years as its Chief Range Officer. He was a life member of the NRA. He was active in the Boy Scouts as a youth and later as an Adult Scout Master. The only years he didn’t have a victory garden was the year he was in Vietnam. He loved history and was an active reader. Bill is survived by his son, Eric W. Duncklee of Goffstown, NH; a daughter, Deborah Crossman of NC; his life partner, Susan Hall Butler of Milford; and six grandchildren. A visiting hour will be held on Monday, November 12th from 10:00-11:00 am in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 am in the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenvale Cemetery, Greenfield, NH, with military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-0807.