NORTH CONWAY, N.H. — Leonard Roland Kiesman, 83, of Fryeburg, died peacefully Tuesday, March 5, at the Memorial Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Len was a lifelong resident of Fryeburg and loved his “hometown.”

He graduated from Fryeburg Academy, Class of 1948, and married his high school sweetheart, Doris Devine. They enjoyed 51 years of marriage before her death in 1999. Len work hard and constant to support and care for his family. His earliest career was as a logger working for Cleveland Robbins of West Fryeburg and later worked several years at Birch Craft in Conway, N.H.

In 1961, he worked for Diamond National in Fryeburg as foreman of the mill. In 1968, he started his own carpentry business passing his skills onto his sons over the years. From the late 1970s through the 1980s, he was a valued employee of Indian Acres and Forest Acres in Fryeburg as their maintenance director.

From 1989 to 1999, he delivered rural route mail for the Fryeburg Postal Service and finally retired at the age of 70. Through the years, he enjoyed gardening and raising his farm animals and was also an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt and fish and finally bagged his moose in 2002.

He also enjoyed country music. Some of his many talents included writing poetry, drawing and especially wood carving. Many people remember enjoying his rhythmic entertaining poems that became a town meeting tradition started by the late Carlton Mills. They are still available in the archives for reading at the Fryeburg Library.

Some of his carving work can still be seen at the entrance of Indian Acres where his fourth set of hand carved totem poles stand as a welcome to the camp.

He is survived by his brother, Gerald “Gay” Kiesman of Fryeburg; his sons, Daniel of Sebago, Roger and his wife, Wanda, of Stow, Karl of Fryeburg and Richard and his wife, Sue, of Fryeburg; daughter, Donna Woodward of Fryeburg; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins; his dear friend, Elery Lawrence; sisters-in-law, Sadie Brown, Mary Currie and husband, James, of Fryeburg, Ida Shepard of Massachusetts, Sylvia Chandler of Virginia, and Ginny Picarazzi of Connecticut; and brothers-in-law, Mario Picarazzi and Guido Picarazzi of Connecticut.

Len was predeceased by his wife, Doris “Devine” Kiesman; his daughter, Joyce Marie; brothers, Lawrence and Fredrick; sister, Dorothy; and his parents, Lester and Eldora “Richardson” Kiesman.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.woodfuneralhome.org.