1921 – 2004

CANTON – Thomas Joseph “Tom” DeFosse, 82, a resident of the Victorian Villa Nursing Home for the last six months, formerly of Dixfield, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, after a long illness.

He was born June 11, 1921, in Shelburne, N.H., one of 11 children of Alphonse and Alice Mary (Fortier) DeFosse. He was educated in schools in Milan, N.H., and joined the CCC’s in Milan. He worked in the woods logging and driving a team of horses. In 1941, he moved to Lisbon, N.H., where he met his wife-to-be, Mary Gilbert, whom he married on Feb. 7, 1942.

During World War II, he served as an interpreter and sharpshooter, also manning the “Big Guns” in the Anti-Aircraft Division of the 2nd Army under General Patton. He was in three major battles, including the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine River, for which he earned a badge for M-1 Rifle Sharp Shooter, many campaign medals and managed to come home safely without a scratch. He rose to the rank of Corporal.

He was employed by Diamond International, Peru, for 37 years where he was a mechanic on toothpicks in the wood room, retiring in July of 1983.

He was also a dowser and found water for many people locally and throughout the State of Maine and New Hampshire. He was a man of great faith and served his faith community at the Church of the Nazarene, Dixfield, as Head Trustee. He was also a member of the American Legion Post in Dixfield and the VFW Post in Rumford.

He loved to build things like birdhouses and toys for his daughters when they were small and built his own double Ski-Doo trailer. He also enjoyed traveling to see new sites, camping, and snowmobiling. He was a great family man and enjoyed get-togethers, three times a week, for years. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Mary of Dixfield; their three daughters, Judy and her husband, Bruce Jones of Milton, N.H., Patricia DeMeritt of Dixfield and Mary Lou Ellis of Mexico; 11 grandchildren, Steven Robinson of Germany, Jim and Denise Robinson of Nottingham, N.H., Susan and her husband, Brant Smith of Dover, N.H., David Robinson of Kittery, Thomas and his wife, Dianne Johnson, Robert Johnson, Bradley Smith, Mary Elizabeth and her husband Jim Allen all of Mexico, John Ellis of Mexico, Terri and her husband, Mark Glover of Rumford, Missy Ellis and her best friend, Gary Warren of Peru; and 10 great-grandchildren, William Robinson, Christopher Zamba, Brandon Smith, Stephanie Johnson, Kristen, Jessica and Ayla Allan, Alexa Ellis, Jennifer Ellis and Joseph Ellis Bruns; one sister, Blanche Bergeron of Berlin, N.H.; many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by four brothers, Rosario, Leard, Florien and William; five sisters, Parmilia Galipeau, Bernadette Deyette, Doris Croteau, Florence Bulduc and Dora Thibodeau.

Copy the Story Link