John Nielsen

John Nielsen passed away on January 3, 2023, at his home in Holderness surrounded by his family.

John started life in Ashland, New Hampshire as the fifth child of Knud and Mary Elizabeth Nielsen. Knud was known for his furniture store on Main Street and Mary Elizabeth was a beloved Kindergarten and First Grade teacher at the Ashland Elementary School for many years. Throughout his childhood, John could be seen carrying his pet chicken around, making mischief, wherever he went.

Later, the family moved to Holderness where John attended Interlakes High School.  John spent his summers on Squam, and could be seen as young as six years old driving his boat up and down the channel, as that is as far as his mother would allow him to go at that age.  She would sit on the dock at the family boathouse waving to him as he went by over and over again.

John owned many boats over the years. One of his most famous boats was the “Elizabeth”, which was used briefly by Katharine Hepburn as her dressing room while On Golden Pond was filmed. His other boats could certainly be heard for miles around, but he finally settled into a pontoon boat in his later years.

During one of those teenage summers on Squam, he met Vicki Nourse.  They were married at St. Peter’s Church on Shepard Hill in 1973. They started a propane business together called Superior Gas Service, later purchased Newfound Gas Service, converting both businesses into one umbrella, JVK Gas Service. They operated this business together until 1994.

John could always figure out how to do any task or make anything work. It was not always done by the book, but the task would be done. As time went on, he enjoyed watching his grandchildren play and while he was still able, he would crawl around on the floor with them to play any game they wanted.

He was predeceased by his parents, Mary Elizabeth Nielsen in 2019 and Knud Nielsen in 1998.

He is survived by Vicki Nielsen, his daughter and her husband Kristen & Nate Fuller, and four grandchildren, Lorelai, Juliet, Ryan, and Oliver Fuller.

A memorial gathering will be held at Dupuis Funeral Home at 11 Hill Avenue in Ashland, NH on Sunday, January 22 at 1pm. All are encouraged to come share favorite stories about John and his life.