Dean Harvey Kelsey, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away at the age of 89 on June 17, 2025, in Manchester, NH.

He was born on November 17, 1935, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Dean was the seventh child of the late Ralph and Lillian (Nichols) Kelsey.

While attending St. Johnsbury Academy, Dean met his high school sweetheart, Darlene Hubbard. They married in 1957 and shared 66 devoted years together. Dean proudly served in the US Air Force for 21 years. He took assignments stationing him across the country, as well as France and Thailand. His final assignment was at Pease AFB in Portsmouth, NH where he served as First Sergeant.

Following his retirement from the US Air Force in 1978, Dean continued to serve his country as a Mechanical Engineering Technician at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.  His responsibilities included preparing and validating repair plans to submarine systems due for upgrade or overhaul, which sometimes meant travel to naval bases in Charleston, Seattle, San Francisco and Honolulu.  After 35 years of dedicated service in the Air Force and Naval Shipyard, he fully retired in 1993.

In 1994, Dean and Darlene moved to Ocala, FL where they built a home and enjoyed the warm winters before returning to New Hampshire in 2002 to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren. They enjoyed supporting their grandchildren at sporting events, band concerts, and school celebrations.

Dean found joy in life's simple pleasures. An avid gardener, he grew vegetables in his backyard and community garden plots. He was rarely without a book or magazine in hand and started each day with a single cup of black coffee and a pastry. He loved spending time in his workshop crafting small furniture pieces. His family fondly joked that his favorite hobby was sitting outside, watching the grass grow and the leaves change color.

For the past nine years, Dean lived at River Woods Retirement Community in Manchester, NH. He was loved by the staff and residents for his puns, witty one-liners, and endearing grumpy disposition.

Dean is survived by his daughters Deborah Russell (Wayne) of Derry, NH, and Donna Chisholm (Joe) of Hampton, NH, his grandchildren, Logan Russell (Briana and her daughter, Brooke), Orion Russell (Sarah), Shannon Chisholm, and Meagan Johnson (Ross). He is also survived by one great-grandson, Pierce Russell. Dean is predeceased by his wife, Darlene and his six siblings.

At Dean's request, a private family burial with Military Honors will be held at Last Rest Cemetery in Merrimack, NH.