Duane K. Wetmore

duane wetmore
Duane K. Wetmore, age 85, of 921 Shepard Ave., Hamden, passed away on October 11, 2011 at his home, which is the same house where he was born. Duane lived his final days at home surrounded by his family and many friends. He was the husband of Sharyn Hooghkirk Wetmore & widower of Helen Main Wetmore; Father of Duane E. Wetmore of Bridgeport, Patricia (James) Palmer of Windham, Amelia (Robert) Blount of Vero Beach, FL, Virginia Wetmore (Bob) Grad of Merideth, NH, Marshall (Tracy) Wetmore of Moultonborough, NH, Audrey (Kevin) Brooks of Amenia, NY, Sharyl (Joseph) Pavlisko of Meriden & Tammy (Joseph) Vertucci of Wallingford; Grandfather of April Parcesepe, Adam Grandy, Kenneth Metz, Marissa Carlsen, Gregory Kessman, Katherine Kessmen, Taryn Pavlisko, Nicholette, Joey & Mario Vertucci; Great Grandfather of Finn Grandy; Brother of Gladys Brown of Hamden, Laura (Gerald) Wolf of Hamden, Gloria (Michael) Scarpa of Wallingford, Lila (Fred) Stevens of New Orleans, VT, former Captain Co. #7 Erwin 'Jim' (Beverly) Wetmore of Hamden, former Fire Chief Paul (Betty) Wetmore, Sr. of Hamden & the late Muriel & Viola Wetmore & Ellen Krezminski; Born in Hamden, June 26, 1926, he was a son of the late Clement R. & Marion Kirk Wetmore. Duane enlisted into the U.S. Navy in 1944 & his parents were presented with his diploma from Hamden High School in 1945, before he was honorably discharged in 1946. He was the former owner & mechanic of Wetmore's Garage from 1946-1947. An electrician by trade for 52 years, he was the sole proprietor of Duane's Electric Company which he started in 1964 and operated until 2001. Some organizations & positions that Duane has had the privilege of holding include being Past President of the Mix District Civic Assoc, Past President of the Eighth District Republican Club, Past President & Captain of the Mix District Volunteer Fire Company #7, where he has been a 68 year member to date & responded as an active volunteer for 59 years before stepping down from the drivers seat of the fire truck and is presently serving as Secretary, State Forest Fire Warden for Hamden & 4 surrounding towns for nearly 15 years, Grange member for 68 years, Past Master & Treasurer of the Hamden Grange #99, New Haven County Pomona #5 & the Connecticut State Grange in 1990 & served 4 years during which time there were nearly 10, 000 members in the state, presently Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CT State Grange, Co-Founder of the Southern CT Past Master's Association, Town of Hamden Boards & Commissions Retirement Board, Board of Fire Commissioners 1985-87 & reappointed in 2006, past Chairman of the Community Development Advisory Commission, member of the Mt. Carmel Congregational Church for 64 years where he sang in the choir & was made an honorary deacon by the Congregation, Chairman of the Board of Trustees & presently serves as Chairman of the Board of Deacons, past Superintendent of the Sunday School, presently serving on the Financial Advisory Board & acting as a Moderator, served on the search committee that was responsible for the present pastor, Douglas House being brought to the church & a member of the Hamden Volunteer Firefighters Fireworks Committee, serving as Chairman from 2000-2006. Duane's Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011 at 9:00 AM in Mt. Carmel Congregational Church. Friends may also visit with his family at BEECHER & BENNETT FUNERAL HOME, 2300 Whitney Ave, Hamden on Friday from 4-8 PM. Burial with full military honors will take place in Beaverdale Memorial Park. Contributions in Duane's memory may be made to Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, 1579 Straits Turnpike, Unit C, Middlebury, CT 06762 or to Mt Carmel Congregational Church, 3284 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518.

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  1. Favorite times with Uncle Duane include: Christmas at Grams and Gramps then PEW and Bettys, Wetmore Reunions at Brooksvalle then Mike and Glo’s, Mix District Fire Co. events, annual Easter egg hunts at the farm, and picking out a Christmas Tree from the farm. You made a difference here on earth but will always make a difference in heaven. All My Love, Rich

  2. My sincere condolences and prayers for your personal loss and the Town of Hamden’s loss. Duane will always be remembered by anyone with any connection to this Town. My Dad Joe Shields HFD knew him well and as a Hamden PD Officer I was priveleged to also know him. He will be truly missed

  3. Our condolences to the Wetmore Family. We had the privilege of getting to know Duane and his loving family at reunions at his daughter, Pat’s house. After meeting Duane, we instantly knew where all of his children got their .wonderful Wetmore wit.. Our thoughts and prayers are with his children and grandchildren.

  4. To The Entire Wetmore Family, The community has lost a great citizen & friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you during your time of sorrow. From all of us at the Hamden 911 Dispatch Center.

  5. We are so sorry for your loss, Duane Wetmore’s service to the citizens of Hamden for the last 68 years is a very proud memory to all in his fine family. He asked for no compensation, yet put his life on the line to help the residents of our fine town. Thank you Mr. Wetmore.

  6. We are so sorry for your loss, Duane Wetmore’s service to the citizens of Hamden for the last 68 years is a very proud memory to all in his fine family. He asked for no compensation, yet put his life on the line to help the residents of our fine town. Thank you Mr. Wetmore.

  7. Another member of the quartet missing, Frank, Eddie, Jim & Duane… So sorry to hear of Duane’s passing. I still have the eulogy he wrote for Jim in 2007.

  8. Duane was a wonderful man and was always very kind to us. He was very bright and loved to talk to people. Please know our thoughts are with the family

  9. I am saddened by Duane’s passing. After I left Connecticut and moved to California, each year during the holidays I would receive a wonderful, thoughtful, hand-written letter – filled with inspirational messages about his love of the Grange, which brought a smile to my face and great joy. I still have all the letters – and will forever cherish them. I extend my deepest sympathies to Sharyn and his family.

  10. I would like to say to the family, I am so sorry for your lose. He will be miss by so many people.. God Bless.

  11. My wife and I would like to offer our sincerest condolences to Sharyn and family. I have known Duane for over 75 plus years. His courage and grace gladdened the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him. We are saddened to hear of his passing and extend our deepest sympathies.

  12. Please accept our deepest condolences upon the passing of Duane. He was one of the nicest members of the CT State Grange and will be greatly missed along with his jokes and stories. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

  13. Please accept our deepest condolences upon the passing of Duane. We will miss his jokes and stories. Our sympathy goes to Sharyl, Pat and Karen especially and the rest of his family we did not know. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

  14. Sending our sympathy from Greenfield Hill Grange and Redding Grange. Our prayers to the family as mourning the loss of this very special man, dedicated to family and community. Love from Karen Macdonald and geno Piacentini

  15. We would like to wish all of the Wetmore Family our deepest sympathy in their loss of a husband, father, brother, uncle, and all around great man. We have know Duane and the Wetmore Family for many years. For us it began in 1993 when we took over at Mount Carmel Congregational Church as custodians. Duane was one of the first Friendly faces that welcomed us the the church. He did a lot for the town of Hamden and the Volunteer Fire Department and he will be greatly missed.

  16. With deepest sympathy … My heart goes out to Sharyn and the entire Wetmore clan. Duane was one truly unique person and will be remembered & missed by so many. He’s in a much happier place now and I’m sure he had a grand reception. He earned his wings! With wishes for speedy healing, ~:)

  17. With Deepest Sympathy for the loss of a truly wonderful man. Duane will be missed not only by my family, but our entire community. God Bless You Duane.

  18. To the Wetmore Family; My deepest sympathy for your loss. Commish’s dedication to the Hamden Fire Department and his community are examples for all of us to follow. May he rest in eternal peace. David W. Beaton Vice-President Hamden Firefighters Local 2687

  19. My condolences to the extended Wetmore Family and to many,many friends he made as a distinguished asset to this town for many years. He was also an excellent Electrician who helped me greatly @ my house over the years. He will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure to know this fine person. Sincerely, Wes Hale Rocky Top Rd

  20. I knew Duane from the time I was 6(I turned 50 this year) when he was Sunday School superintendent at Mt Carmel Congregational Church when he was .Mr Wetmore.. Later, in Grange, I’ll never forget when he told me to call him Duane. It felt funny at first. In the 23 years he was my brother in the Grange, he was a good friend to Buck family and someone we all liked very much. Certainly, we are richer having known Duane and shall miss him greatly. Maggie and I and my mother Katherine all send our condolences to the entire Wetmore family.


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