George R. "Jack" Deziel

George "Jack" R. Deziel, 90, of Manchester died April 24, 2019 surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Manchester on March 2, 1929, he was the son of Amorace and Cedulie Gamache Deziel. George attended Manchester Central High School and enjoyed playing sports, including running track and cross country. He graduated in 1948. George joined the US Naval Reserves and in 1951, the US Army. He served in the 3rd Infantry Division in Korea during the Korean War, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant. George saw combat, including the last major battle of the war at Kumsong, which helped establish the current demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. He earned the Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Ambassador of Peace Medal (from the South Korean government).
George married his high school sweetheart, Violet (Duchesne) Deziel, in 1953. They were married for 60 years, proudly raising four sons. Jack and Vi loved ballroom dancing, especially to their song "It Had To Be You." The love of his life, Violet passed away in 2013.
He earned an Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indiana Institute of Technology in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and enjoyed a long and successful career in industrial sales in New England and the Midwest. During the years prior to retirement, George was employed by the State of New Hampshire, primarily in the Department of Transportation.
George was an extremely dedicated, devoted, and loving family man. His life revolved around his family. He coached Little League Baseball and high school and CYO basketball in Manchester and Goffstown, served on the Board of Education for the town of Goffstown, and was very involved in local Roman Catholic parishes in Manchester, Mansfield, Ohio, and Goffstown, where the family lived over the years. He also served as resident council president at Villa Crest Nursing and Retirement Center, ran Villa Crest's "community store," enthusiastically gave away candy (aka "the Candy Man"), and organized numerous sports-watching enhancement programs. George will be remembered for his outgoing personality, lively sense of humor, deep faith, optimism, and positive attitude. He truly loved people, and people loved him.
Family members include his four sons, David Deziel and wife Jan of Manchester, Gary Deziel and wife Katrina of Georgia, VT, John Deziel and partner Jane Stapleton Deziel of Durham, and Dennis Deziel and wife Nicole of Bethesda, MD; grandchildren, Jackson and his wife Marissa Sherman Deziel, Ryan, Alexander, Annabella, Julia, and Johannah; and great-grandchild Luc Deziel.
A memorial service was held on Monday, May 20, 2019 in the chapel at Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, 1799 Elm St, Manchester. Urn burial with immediate family will be in the NH State Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen.
Donations may be made in his memory to the Villa Crest Activity Fund at Villa Crest Nursing and Retirement Center, 1276 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH 03104
To send an online message of condolence, please go to www.lambertfuneralhome.com.