Donald E. Kamholz

Donald Edward Kamholz, born in Boston, Mass., August 3, 1926, has died on March 28, 2017, at the NH Veteran's Home in Tilton, NH.

Donald was a US Navy Veteran of WWII, having served his country in the Pacific theatre while a very young man.

He married the former Patricia Minnahan of Malden, Mass., on September 27, 1952 and they spent their entire lives together in the Granite State. Pat Kamholz departed this life after a struggle with blindness and several health issues on July 16, 2015. They are survived by their three loving daughters and several grandchildren. Donald worked in the beverage industry, particularly beer, for a brewer, then a distributor, and finally as the New England representative of the US Brewer's Association.

Donald's life was spent in the service of others. He was a devoted Catholic and volunteered for his church and through the Knights of Columbus. For that group, he raised money for causes, organized fund raisers and spent years driving the St. Mary's Food Bank truck in his spare time, collecting excess food from grocery stores for distribution to families without enough.
He was also active in the volunteer organization, The Exchange Club, becoming President of the Nashua chapter and then founding another chapter and leading as its President in Merrimack, NH. Through those organizations, Donald was a leader in raising money and recognition for scholarships for local high school students and a variety of other charitable goals.

In Donald's younger years, he was always to be found 'at the neighbors', helping to build walls, clean gutters, clear brush, shovel snow; wherever he saw need, he was there.

Donald was a sportsman, being an advanced skier, confident skater, energetic baseball player and talented golfer. He also loved to bowl and throw any kind of ball with his grandchildren in later years.

What people will remember about him is his unfailing positive spirit, his excellent manners - which were born of a genuine respect for others, his humor and humility, and especially, energy. The list of his witty sayings is too lengthy for this page, but many will be lovingly remembered by his family. He was handsome, athletic, happy, uncritical and loving.

His absence is a silent grief. His life a beautiful memory.
Rest in Peace, Dad. We love you, Pop.

Family and friends are invited to gather Friday, April 7, 2017 at noon at Phaneuf Funeral Home, 172 King Street in Boscawen. A dual funeral service celebrating the lives of both Donald and his beloved wife, Patricia, will begin at 1:00PM in the funeral home chapel. Interment with military honors will follow immediately at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway in Boscawen.