Otto A. Koskela

Otto A. Koskela, 87, of Dublin, NH died Thursday June 5, 2014 at his home after years of failing health.

He was born at home in Dublin on April 1, 1927, son of the late Otto R. and Elizabeth M. (Qvist) Koskela. Mr. Koskela was a graduate of the former Peterborough High School and had attended one year at the University of New Hampshire before being drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps. He proudly served his country in WWII and was stationed in China with a tank battalion. After the war, Mr. Koskela continued his education at UNH and earned a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering. While in school, Otto was also commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He was a member of American Legion Cheney Armstrong Post #5 in Peterborough.

Mr. Koskela worked for the Monsanto Company in their Plastics Division and had lived and worked in Texas, Massachusetts and Ohio, retiring in 1982. He then worked briefly for the Specialty Adhesive Company. Otto’s efforts helped improve several common household products like Aspirin and Liquid Laundry Detergent.

Otto always felt at home on the farm and enjoyed working the fields. He and his wife bought a farm in Indiana and lived there until moving home to Dublin in 1995. Again, he found great pleasure and was happiest out in the fields on his tractor, haying or just tinkering around. He was a big tease, and simply enjoyed being at home, close to his family.

Otto is survived by his wife of 61 years, Pearl R. (Teare) Koskela; his son Brett A. Koskela, 3 grandchildren, Hazel Parker, Zachary A. Koskela and Levi B. Koskela; 5 great-grandchildren, Nicholas, William, Jonathan, Abigail, and Alexander, all of Dublin; 2 sisters, Lucia Sirois of Dublin and Bertha Harris of Peterborough, and many nieces nephews, cousins and friends.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Koskela was predeceased by his son Eric G. Koskela; by his brother Arthur Koskela; and by his sisters, Helen Kernozicky, Ruth Morris and Ida Lewandowski.

Family and friends are warmly invited to calling hours on Monday, June 9, 2014, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Cournoyer Funeral Home, 33 River Street, (Rte. 202) Jaffrey, NH 03452.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at 11:00 am at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 280 Rte. 101 West, Peterborough, NH. Burial will follow with military honors at Conant Cemetery in Jaffrey.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making memorial contributions in Otto’s name to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 37, Peterborough, NH 03458, or to the Salvation Army, or to the charity of one’s choice.