Elmer R. Dech

GARDNER - Dr. Elmer R. Dech, 74, of Gardner, MA, passed away Friday, January 28, 2011, at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, MA, surrounded by his children. He was born in Northampton County, PA, July 9, 1936, to Elmer A. and Mabel H. Dech. Elmer attended high school in Robesonia, PA, where he was known as an excellent athlete and scrappy competitor, scoring the winning soccer goal for the county championship in his senior year. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, and Hahneman University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, and served at Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, WY. Following his discharge from the military, Elmer and his wife Geraldine moved their family to Massachusetts. He began his practice as a Family Physician in Gardner, where for many years he was dedicated to his patients and the community. Dr. Dech later moved to Rindge, NH with his second wife Barbara and her daughters. Certified in addiction medicine, he served as the Medical Director of the Naukeag Hospital, Ashburnham, MA, and later joined the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic in Keene, NH, practicing there until he retired in 2001. Always preferring to be busy and productive, Elmer spent his retirement volunteering to help others, traveling every year to build homes with Habitat for Humanity. He got great satisfaction from spending time with his family, assisting others with yard work, and getting together with friends for golf, bowling, or playing cards. He was an avid sports fan and a lively political debater. Dr. Dech was pre-deceased by his parents and his sister, Joyce Porter, of Rochester, NY. He will be missed by his daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Mark Dean of Concord, NH, daughter Leanne Dech of Freeport, ME, his son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Debbie Dech of Merrimack, NH, former wife, Geraldine Fessler of Pepperell, MA, step-daughter and her husband, Lynn and Jason Aplin of San Diego, CA, step-daughter, Elizabeth White of Winchendon, MA, former wife, Barbara Walker of Westminster, MA, five grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, his brother and sister-in-law, Merle and Florence Dech of Summerfield, FL, brother-in-law, Stuart Porter of Rochester, NY, nieces, nephews and dear friends. Calling hours will be held at John H. Mack Funeral Home, 91 Vernon St., Gardner, MA, on Saturday, February 12, 2011 from 1:00 to 3:00. A private family memorial will follow this spring at Cathedral of the Pines, Rindge, NH, where Elmer volunteered. Final interment of his ashes will be in Northampton County, PA. He will be "going home." The family suggests that if anyone would like to make a donation in his honor, Elmer would have appreciated their support of Habitat for Humanity - online at www.elmer-dech-habitat-giving.org or may be sent to Habitat for Humanity International, 121 Habitat Street, Americus, GA 31709-3498. $(document).ready(function(){ });