Recent Obituaries
John Dupre
Lunenburg-John R. Dupre, Jr. passed on January 15, 2022, at Leominster Rehabilitation and Nursing Center with family at his side. He was the husband of Joan (Demont) Dupre, who predeceased him in 1994 after 43 years of marriage.
John was born in Shirley, MA, on January 29, 1930, the eldest son of Mary (Boss) Dupre and John R. Dupre, Sr. He attended schools in Shirley and trade school in Fitchburg before joining the Army in 1947 and later becoming a member of the National Guard.
He had a varied career as a heavy equipment operator, mechanic and tractor trailer driver. He worked in construction for many different local companies, including his own. He built many of the roads around Hickory Hills Lake and was the first bulldozer operator to clear the way for what is now John Fitch Highway, sections of Rt. 2 and I-190. He retired as the quarry shovel operator for the PJ Keating Co. in Lunenburg in 1994.
During his long career in the National Guard, he was part of the recovery team for the Worcester Tornado in 1953 and supervised the clearing of vehicles from Rt. 128 during the aftermath of the Blizzard of 1978. He retired from the National Guard as a SFC in 1983.
John was also active in his non-working life. Early on, he road motorcycles with Pete’s Roamers and raced stockcar on the local tracks in MA and southern NH along with other members of his family. He helped build the camp at the Lunenburg Sportsman’s Club and its fishpond. He was a certified NRA Safety Instructor and conducted classes at the Club. He later started repairing, rebuilding and showing Farmall Tractors and attended local engine, farm and county fairs and shows. He was a past board member of the Lunenburg Sportsman’s Club, Lunenburg Historical Society and Central MA Engine Club. He was also a member of the Straw Hollow Engine Club, Musterfield Farm Museum, Northeast Rockbusters Antique Construction Equipment Club and an exhibitor/volunteer at many more. He was often called by people around the country seeking his expertise when rebuilding tractors, heavy equipment and diesel engines.
John leaves his daughter, Jeanne Dupre; son, John M. Dupre and his wife Brenda all of Lunenburg; granddaughter, Janine of Townsend; step-grandson Kevin Fortin of Worcester; “adopted” daughter, Elaine McPartlan of Groton; sisters Rita Pfannenstiel of Merrimack, NH, and Teresa Briggs of Pepperell, MA; brother, Kevin Dupre of Las Vegas, NV; a great-granddaughter and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, he was also predeceased by his longtime companion Margaret McPartlan; brothers, Gilbert, Peter and Reginald Dupre and sister Mary Iona (Dupre) Ordway.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, January 21, 2022 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM in the Lunenburg Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Homes, 763 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, MA 01462.
Burial will be held at a later date in North Cemetery, Lunenburg, MA.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in John’s memory be made to Service Dogs for Veterans at NEADS, PO Box 1100, Princeton, MA 01541 (NEADS.org) or the Lunenburg Firefighters Association, 655 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, MA 01462.
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Lunenburg-John R. Dupre, Jr. passed on January 15, 2022, at Leominster Rehabilitation and Nursing Center with family at his side. He was the husband of Joan (Demont) Dupre, who predeceased him in 1994 after 43 years of marriage.
John was born in Shirley, MA, on January 29, 1930, the eldest son of Mary (Boss) Dupre and John R. Dupre, Sr. He attended schools in Shirley and trade school in Fitchburg before joining the Army in 1947 and later becoming a member of the National Guard.
He had a varied career as a heavy equipment operator, mechanic and tractor trailer driver. He worked in construction for many different local companies, including his own. He built many of the roads around Hickory Hills Lake and was the first bulldozer operator to clear the way for what is now John Fitch Highway, sections of Rt. 2 and I-190. He retired as the quarry shovel operator for the PJ Keating Co. in Lunenburg in 1994.
During his long career in the National Guard, he was part of the recovery team for the Worcester Tornado in 1953 and supervised the clearing of vehicles from Rt. 128 during the aftermath of the Blizzard of 1978. He retired from the National Guard as a SFC in 1983.
John was also active in his non-working life. Early on, he road motorcycles with Pete’s Roamers and raced stockcar on the local tracks in MA and southern NH along with other members of his family. He helped build the camp at the Lunenburg Sportsman’s Club and its fishpond. He was a certified NRA Safety Instructor and conducted classes at the Club. He later started repairing, rebuilding and showing Farmall Tractors and attended local engine, farm and county fairs and shows. He was a past board member of the Lunenburg Sportsman’s Club, Lunenburg Historical Society and Central MA Engine Club. He was also a member of the Straw Hollow Engine Club, Musterfield Farm Museum, Northeast Rockbusters Antique Construction Equipment Club and an exhibitor/volunteer at many more. He was often called by people around the country seeking his expertise when rebuilding tractors, heavy equipment and diesel engines.
John leaves his daughter, Jeanne Dupre; son, John M. Dupre and his wife Brenda all of Lunenburg; granddaughter, Janine of Townsend; step-grandson Kevin Fortin of Worcester; “adopted” daughter, Elaine McPartlan of Groton; sisters Rita Pfannenstiel of Merrimack, NH, and Teresa Briggs of Pepperell, MA; brother, Kevin Dupre of Las Vegas, NV; a great-granddaughter and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, he was also predeceased by his longtime companion Margaret McPartlan; brothers, Gilbert, Peter and Reginald Dupre and sister Mary Iona (Dupre) Ordway.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, January 21, 2022 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM in the Lunenburg Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Homes, 763 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, MA 01462.
Burial will be held at a later date in North Cemetery, Lunenburg, MA.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in John’s memory be made to Service Dogs for Veterans at NEADS, PO Box 1100, Princeton, MA 01541 (NEADS.org) or the Lunenburg Firefighters Association, 655 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, MA 01462.
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