William Neilus Laauwe II, 85, of Warren NH was born on January 16, 1936, and passed away December 15, 2021 at his home in Warren. Bill was surrounded by his loving family in a standing-room-only gathering.
Bill was born in Hackensack NJ to Sadie and William Laauwe. Both families had immigrated to the United States from Holland, making Bill a full-blooded Dutchman. He was raised and attended school in Hackensack NJ. He enjoyed family dinners after church on Sundays with his parents and long car rides in the afternoon with his sister and brother.
Bill worked his way up in the masonry industry to become a master mason. He eventually went into business for himself.
Coming from a family of fishermen and hunters, Bill enjoyed many winters hunting and summers fishing with his father and uncles. As a young man Bill enjoyed working on and collecting cars. He owned a small fleet of convertibles. He loved racing cars and raced the late model division in Middletown NY. He continued this passion with his sons who followed in his footsteps, racing #77 and #55 at Nor-Way Pines Speedway in Rumney, NH.
He moved to Rumney NH in 1977 and started attending Rumney Baptist Church, where he remained a long-time member. In 1985 he settled in Warren/Wentworth area where he has spent the last 36 years close by his children. Bill loved being a family man. When he wasn't working, he was home with his children, working in the garden every weekend sporting his farmer's tan. He looked forward to summer cookouts, and celebration gatherings throughout the years with his large extended family. In Bill's later years he worked with his sons in construction. We are sure he'd tell you it was to make sure they did it the right way. There was an endless supply of cookies and lollipops for the grandchildren who visited, and lots of poking and telling funny jokes. He was the proud owner of many German Shepherds over the years and leaves behind his beloved Shepherd Princess who will miss him dearly.
Bill is survived by his brother James and wife Ann Marie of Bristol NH, daughter Darlene and husband Ron Gilmore of Warren NH, daughter Tracey and husband Richard Blodgett of Wentworth NH, daughter Sandra and husband Sean Donahue of Warren NH, son William (Buddy) and fiancé Kristen Coburn of Warren NH, son Brandt and wife Denise of Warren, son Cory and fiancé Kimberly Start of Wentworth, 15 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren (and one on the way) along with many nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his mother and father, Sadie and William Laauwe, his sister Marylyn and brother-in-law Robert Patterson of Plymouth NH. Bill loved flowers and had many gardens, fruit trees and plants.
A funeral service will be held n the Rumney Baptist Church on Monday, Dec. 20th, at 1pm. Burial will be held in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Plymouth.
All the flowers from the service will be donated to the church and local nursing homes so others may enjoy them as much as he did.