Manchester, NH - John B. Howe born April 11, 1945 - died October 9, 2023.

He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Susan Terragni Howe, two sons, Benjamin R. Howe, his wife Deborah (Eade) Howe, and Timothy J. Howe, his wife Lisa Kaplan Howe, and four very special granddaughters, Alexandria, Jillian, Amelia, and Olivia.  He was predeceased by his siblings Kevin J. Howe of Manchester and Sue-Ellen Howe of Boston, MA.

Born in Manchester, he was the son of the late James and Margaret (Morrissey) Howe. He graduated from Manchester High School Central and St. Anselm College.  He served in the United States Army from 1964 to 1966.  He often said that much of his education was acquired outside of the classroom and that experience was his best teacher.

John began work at City Fuel Co. Inc. in 1970, as general manager, and purchased the business in 1973, becoming the President of the company.  He worked tirelessly to build a thriving and successful full-service home heating oil business.  John joined the New England Fuel Institute becoming its youngest Board Chairman in 1981. In 1991, he purchased Dave's Septic Company and grew the business from a small septic/portable toilet company to a company of over 4,000 toilets, full-service trailers, and septic service when the company was sold in 2019. Eventually his son Tim would run the company, although John delighted in saying he was only semi-retired, picking up his check every week.

John was thoroughly dedicated to the Manchester community, committed to supporting institutions and people in a city that had given so much to him.  He served on numerous boards,

The Manchester Planning Board, The Greater Manchester City Library, The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (Vice President), Director and Past President of the Cathedral Credit Union, The Catholic Medical Center (Director) the NH Better Home Heating Oil Council (Chairman and Director) The Granite YMCA (Chairman and Director) and Camp Mi-Te-Na (Chairman). Not only did John support his community with time freely given but he was a loyal member of the Granite YMCA since 1974, joining the first aerobics classes and forming the infamous "lunch club."

John was plain spoken, generous, practical, and loving, exceedingly proud of his sons accomplishments, his daughters-in-law (whom he considered his daughters), and his granddaughters. He loved to bike, riding his e-bike all over Manchester, skiing all over the United States and Europe with The Manchester Ski Club, friends and his sons, and traveling literally all over the world with his family and friends. Anyone fortunate enough to have traveled with John knows that his wife, Susan, planned the trips and John enthusiastically went along for the discovery and adventure.  And there were many, as some of you know, bungee jumping in New Zealand, swimming in the Amazon, riding a camel in Tunisia, shooting rapids in Nepal, an earthquake in Chile, street food in Myanmar, and spotting animals in Africa, Indonesia, and India. He loved the trips with his family and his hope was that they would learn to love the adventure of travel as much as he did.  He was able to take his family and granddaughters rafting and camping on the Salmon River in Idaho, his final trip, which was a dream come true for him.

John was a devoted and active grandfather, babysitting, attending games, meets, and performances, bragging about each individual accomplishment. He was especially proud of starting each granddaughter skiing. John loved to cook, walking Moody Beach in Maine, a crisp winter day, telling a good story, and a good celebration. He was unique and special in so many ways and will be missed. He would say to anyone who asked, it was better to be lucky, and he was in so many ways.

Burial is at the convenience of the family at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

To honor and remember John please make a donation in his name to an organization in Manchester - favorites included the Granite YMCA, Families in Transition and the Manchester Public Library.