Walter H Kestler

Walter H. Kestler, 91, of Meredith, died on Monday, January 28, 2013 at Lakes Region General Hospital, in Laconia, after courageous fight during a brief illness.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, on March 31, 1921, he was the son of Lawrence and Agnes (Keilbach) Kestler. Walter was raised in Brooklyn and graduated from the Brooklyn Technical School and began working in the air industry at Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft.

Walter was an early enthusiast of skiing and was an avid horseback rider. He enlisted with the U.S. Army on November 4, 1942, joining the 10th Mountain Division (Ski Troops) in World War II. After training at Camp Hale, Colorado, he was assigned to Kiska in the Aleutian Islands, of Alaska. Upon the retreat of the Japanese from Alaska he was reassigned to the South Pacific where he joined the Army Air Force 17th Photo Recon Squadron in the South Pacific. Walt served on numerous islands including: Guadalcanal in the Northern Solomons, Moratai in the Dutch East Indies, Borneo, New Guinea, the Bismark Archipelago, New Caledonia, and Leyte and Palauwan in the Southern Philippines. Walter served as a Photo Recon Specialist and then as a propeller specialist. For his service he received the American Theatre Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Good Conduct Medal, and the Victory Medal.

After being discharged from his service he returned to Connecticut and he met the love of his life, Veronica "Ronnie" (Remish), they married on September 25, 1948 at her hometown church, St. Michael's Greek Catholic Church, in Dunmore, Pennsylvania. Immediately thereafter, they moved to Meredith, NH, where they proceeded with building their summertime cottage colony on Old Hubbard Road, later known as "Summerside".

Walter and "Ronnie" accommodated many long-term returning guests from many places. Some of their guests enjoyed the area so much that they eventually bought summer homes and some relocated permanently.

Walter was known as a master of many and varied practical working talents; he was an exceptional home builder and built many summer and full year homes for friends throughout the years. He could fix practically anything. Further, he was always lending a helping hand to friends and neighbors. He lent his talents to both the Old Hubbard Road Assoc. and the Meredith Civic Assoc. for many years. Numerous projects were planned and completed with his guidance and help.

Walt was a long-time dedicated communicant of St. Charles-Borromeo Catholic Church in Meredith. He first attended services with Fr. Richard in the Lakeside basement. With the arrival of Fr. Bosa, he assisted in a variety of the church's building projects as it was gradually completed in the 1950's.

Walter and "Ronnie" enjoyed playing bridge with their friends; they enjoyed travelling, taking numerous trips around the U.S. and Canada and they spent more than 20 years wintering together in Florida.

Walter is survived by his loving daughter, Carol Grasso and her husband Tom, granddaughter, Melanie Dirig-Grasso and her husband Cedric, all of Laconia; sister, Margaret Judge, of Newton, NJ; numerous nieces and nephews.