Obituaries
• Claude Gouin, 69, of Dummerston. Died at his home on April 19, 2019, after a long illness. Claude was born Jan. 16, 1950 in Colchester. Soon after, his family moved to Brattleboro. He played baseball and football and became the quarterback of the Brattleboro Union High School football team before graduating in 1968. Claude was an avid athlete and enjoyed skiing, biking, snowshoeing, and hiking. For many years, Claude ran CJ & Sons, a successful homebuilding and remodeling company. In 1988, Claude purchased a 10-acre lot off Kipling Road in Dummerston and built his dream home. Claude was told by many that it would be impossible to build a driveway up the hill to the house, but he persevered. He and his wife Betsy have lived in the home for the past 35 years. Claude spent countless hours over many years, maintaining his “impossible” driveway. In the mid-1990s, he served as Chair of the Dummerston School Board, where, as chair of the school's building committee, he oversaw the school's expansion in 1994. In 1995, he raised funds, coordinated, and managed the construction of the school's baseball field, which he then maintained, on a volunteer basis, for the next 25 years. During the late-1990s and early 2000s, Claude coached the Dummerston School baseball team; several teams in the Brattleboro Area Babe Ruth League, and the Brattleboro Post 5 American Legion Baseball team. In 2007, his Babe Ruth team won the Vermont State Championship. In 2009, the Dummerston Grange recognized Claude as “Community Citizen of the Year.” In 2018, the town of Dummerston renamed the school's baseball field in Claude's honor. Claude always said that he was “saving golf for his old age” and started playing the sport at around age 50. For many years, he was a member at the Pine Grove Springs Golf Club where he managed to achieve a handicap index of 14.0 (allegedly). For the last four years, he organized the club's Senior League. Claude is survived by his wife of 38 years, Betsy Whittaker; his son, Steven Philip Gouin; daughter-in-law, Katherine Brittany Gouin; and grandchild Steven Philip Gouin, Jr. He was predeceased by his parents, Mae and Roland; and his brothers, Joseph and Robert. He is survived by sisters, Nicole Dix and MaryAnn Dennis; and brothers, JohnPaul and Will. Memorial information: A service of remembrance will be held at the Dummerston Congregational Church on Thursday, May 2, at 1 p.m. Donations to the West Dummerston Volunteer Fire Department or to the Claude Gouin ballfield. Checks for the ballfield should be made out to the town of Dummerston Recreation Board Fund with Gouin Field in memo line. Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro assisted the family with arrangements.
• Nancy Jean Gramling, 78. Died peacefully on April 4, 2019 at Bradley House in Brattleboro. She came into the world on March 25, 1941, in Sharon, Vt., one of eight children born to Glendon Floyd Tuthill and Mae Evangeline Flint. She lived in many Vermont towns and several states, and spent her retirement in Baxley, Ga, but Nancy considered Vermont her home. She moved back to Brattleboro to be near family with her husband, Richard A. Gramling, who predeceased her in 2016. She was employed as a health information and medical records specialist at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and Jeff Davis Hospital in Hazlehurst, Ga. She married Louis Potwin in 1956 and Richard Gramling in 1971 and had eight children and five step-children in her blended family, which she loved dearly. She held strong religious beliefs and was associated with the Methodist Church and Congregational Church. She is survived by her brother, Gordon Tuthill of Royalton, local family members Alan Potwin of West Fairlee, Heidi Ashe of Campton, N.H., Jason Potwin of Bridgewater, Penny Marine of Guilford, Christopher Morgan of Spofford, N.H., Katrina Morgan of Vernon, Cindy Walley of Freemont, N.H., and Jay Meyer of Putney; her eight children and five step-children, and by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Memorial information: She will be laid to rest in the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph on May 23 at 1 p.m. A celebration of her life will be held at 4 p.m. the same day at Curtis' BBQ in Putney. Donations to Brattleboro Area Hospice, 191 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Leo Joseph “Joe” Jacques Jr., 79, of Vernon. Died unexpectedly April 24, 2019 at his home. Joe was born in Brattleboro on Jan. 27, 1940, the son of Leo Joseph and Margaret Esther (Grover) Jacques. He attended Brattleboro public schools and was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1960. He went on to enlist in the Army, proudly serving his country during the Vietnam War. Following his honorable discharge from active service, he returned home and attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he studied horticultural science. He was Director of Facilities at the Brattleboro Retreat, which he retired from. He previously worked at Brattleboro Union High School and as a greenskeeper at a country club in Connecticut. For several years, he also owned and operated his own food concession truck, Cow Country Seafood, in Guilford. He was a member of American Legion Post 5 and VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034, and was active with the F.O. Eagles, Brattleboro Aerie 2445. He loved the outdoors and nature and enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and golf. Joe also had a love for football, playing throughout his high school years and in the Army. He later became a broadcaster and assistant coach at BUHS. In 1985, he exchanged vows with Becky Rabideau, who predeceased him. Survivors include a son, Leo Joseph Jacques III (Sherri) of Easley, S.C.; a daughter, Heather Martocci of Vernon; stepdaughter, Lisa Raymond of South Hadley, Mass.; and six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Besides his wife, he was predeceased by a daughter, Debra Lee Jacques, and a grandson, Tanner Raymond. Memorial information: A memorial service was held April 30 at Vernon Advent Christian Church, followed by burial with full military honors in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery in Brattleboro. Donations to Vernon Advent Christian Church, 4554 Fort Bridgman Rd., Vernon, VT 05354. To sign an online register book or send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Beverly Ann Knapp, 84, formerly of Dummerston. Died Oct. 29, 2017 in Aiken, S.C. She was raised and educated in Brattleboro, and resided in Dummerston for 42 years before moving to Aiken in 2015. Beverly worked 33 years for the town of Dummerston as a Town Lister, Assistant Town Clerk, and Administrative Assistant to the Selectboard. She retired in 2012. She was well-known and highly thought of by many in Dummerston. Survivors include her brother, Tom (Penny) Brookes, of Montana. her sisters, Maude (Arthur) Higley, Lilian Brookes of Vermont, and Margie (Dick) Robertson of Texas. Other survivors include her two daughters, Sue (Ron) Schack of Florida, Joanne (Larry) Feutral of South Carolina, son Peter (Coleen) Diemand of Massachusetts, and six grandchildren. Memorial information: Interment of her ashes will be on May 4, at 11 a.m., in Dummerston Center Cemetery, 916 East-West Road. There will be a reception immediately following the service at the Evening Star Grange. Donations to the Talatha Baptist Church Building Fund, 361 Talatha Church Rd., Aiken, SC 29803.
• Patricia Nora “Pat” Krieger, 83, of Brattleboro. Died April 20, 2019 at her home, following a period of declining health. Born in New York City on Oct. 19, 1935, the daughter of Patrick J. and Margaret M. (Kreutter) O'Reilly, she attended Darlington Catholic Elementary School in Mahwah, N.J., and was a graduate of St. Luke's High School in Hohokus, N.J. On her birthday in 1963, she married John A. Krieger, who survives. A former resident of Ramsey, N.J., Pat worked at the Wyckoff (N.J.) Bank before moving moving to Dummerston. She worked at the Scott Farm and, later, at Appropriate Technology/Window Quilt in Brattleboro. Pat was a faithful and devoted wife and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose life centered around her family. With her husband, she was a communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. She was a gifted artist and enjoyed drawing flowers and birds, her preferred medium being colored pencils. Pat also enjoyed gardening and travel. Besides her faithful husband of 55 years, she leaves a daughter, Kathleen Savard and her husband, Wayne, of Enfield, N.H.; a son, John M. Krieger of Nashua, N.H.; a brother, Patrick O'Reilly of Nebraska; and three grandchildren, a great granddaughter, and several nieces and nephews. Pat was predeceased by a sister, Karen Lorenz. Memorial information: Burial with graveside committal rites in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery were conducted on April 27. Memorial contributions to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To sign an online register book with messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• George Soulos, 86, formerly of Putney. Died April 21, 2019 in Sarasota, Fla. He was born on June 3, 1932 in Hartford, Conn., the proud son of Greek immigrants. He started studying piano at the age of 9 and, by his early teens, was accompanying school and Greek church choirs while taking courses in piano and composition at the Hartt School of Music. He studied piano at Northwestern University with Gui Mombaerts. His mentor and teacher, Raymond Hanson, guided his studies at Hartt College where he earned advanced degrees in piano as well as degrees in composition under Arnold Fanchetti. He served in the Army and was an accompanist for the U.S. Army Chorus in Washington, D.C. He was a professor and chair of the music department at Windham College in Putney from 1964 to 1976. There, he started the Windham Trio, the Windham College Concert Series, and the Summer Collegium in Early Music. He chaired the music department at Greenfield Community College from 1976 until his retirement in 2000. Throughout his career, George played numerous chamber music concerts with many wonderful colleagues and friends. He arranged and conducted music for his choirs and wrote original compositions which were performed throughout New England. He also was the organist and choir director at the First Congregational Church in West Brattleboro for 30 years. George loved his wife and family with a rare and genuine passion. He was an avid fisherman, gardener, and tinkerer, repairing his house and various machines. His warmth and sense of humor touched people throughout his career and his life. He leaves his wife, Jane; three children: Theodore Soulos, Eleni Wakeman, and Alexandra Potter; and seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Argeri Soulos, and his brother, Steven Soulos. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held a later date.
• Harold Charles Sparks Sr., 83, of South Newfane. Died March 29, 2019 at his home, surrounded by family. Harold was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by Barbara, his wife of 63 years; daughter Michele and sons Tim, Michael, and Steven; and eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Harold Charles Jr. (Charlie); his parents, Hazel and Harold; and brothers Harlon and Roger. After serving in the Marine Corps. Harold settled in Brattleboro to raise his family and where he enjoyed playing softball in the summer. Harold was an avid card player and an even bigger Red Sox fan. His friends and family say they lost a truly great man, a kind human being, and a gentle soul who was loved deeply and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Memorial information: To honor Harold's wishes, there will be no funeral service and burial will be kept private for immediate family members.
Services
• Graveside funeral services for June E. Parsons will be held at the family lot in Fairview Cemetery in Wardsboro on Thursday, May 9, at 11 a.m. A time to share memories will follow at the Stratton Town Hall immediately after the service; refreshments will be served. Mrs. Parsons, 93, a longtime resident of Wilmington, died April 3, 2019. Covey, Allen & Shea Funeral Home is handling arrangements.