John Henry Andersen

John Henry Andersen, 76, of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, and conqueror of the great outdoors, ascended to Heaven on May 16, 2022 where he will eternally enjoy his capstone scenic vista. As with so many mountains before, he was with family during his final ascent, finally passing beyond a height they could not follow, and although they held onto him dearly, he peacefully achieved the summit of a full and impactful life. John was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, one of three children to Reverend H Gardner Andersen and Helen Hattie Hallas. During his formative years at Benton Harbor High School in Michigan, he found his love of athletics. He became an exceptional runner and while earning a BA in History from the University of Massachusetts, he was only ever bested in the 400m hurdles by David Hemery, who later became an Olympic gold medalist. It was during his time at UMass that John received the most providential rejection of his life. Asking one young lady out on a date, she declined, and instead convinced him to ask her roommate - Ms. Donna Yurko. God was smiling on John that day, for the two of them hit it off and were married in Levittown, New Jersey, on August 18, 1967. This year was to be their 55th wedding anniversary, and as he would tell it, maybe only the fourth or fifth one he forgot. John’s discipline in athletics translated well to military service, and he enrolled in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program while attending college. He entered military service on August 5, 1968 as a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. Five days into a tour in Korea, Donna had their first child back in the states. John had to use shortwave radio to celebrate the birth with his wife! He eventually reached the rank of Captain - and was promoted into fatherhood a second time - before being honorably discharged. After the service, John and Donna moved to New Jersey and then on to Connecticut, where they lived for 29 years, cultivating friendships and renovating an 1853 colonial into a beautiful home. (The downstairs bathroom probably took 9 of those 29 years, but who’s counting?) Together, they spent 17 years as innkeepers at the Breakfast on the Connecticut, an 18 room bed and breakfast in Lyme, New Hampshire. Ultimately, they retired to the family property in Hillsboro, NH, their lifelong retreat from every-day life. All through his life, John maintained his passion for the great outdoors. He challenged himself by biking “centuries”, running marathons, camping, hiking, and mountain climbing - including the Presidential Range and the Appalachian Trail. He would continuously test his limits, so that, exhausted, he could better contemplate the beauty around him. He seemed most at peace quietly sitting atop a mountain, as if the view laid before him brought him closer to God. Gentle and kind, John’s love of nature extended to animals. Whether it was the family of flying squirrels he helped raise, or the mutt, Dennis, he rescued from starvation, John’s empathy for all creatures - big and small - was legendary. He couldn’t even bring himself to kill spiders or wasps! While innkeeping with Donna, the two of them sponsored several senior dogs, allowing them to relish their last days exploring the fields around the inn. Of all the things John loved, though, God and family were at the top of the list. Unfortunately, no words can easily describe how much he will be missed by those closest to him. He supported us, he guided us, and he made us laugh. We will miss asparagus fangs at the dinner table. We will miss the fact that he never outgrew fart humor. We will miss the mischievous smile telling us to prepare for another round of tomfoolery. That smile - amazingly enough - came back to him three hours after passing. It was his final gift to us. John is survived by his wife, Donna; his daughter Betsy (husband Matthew) McShea of Hainesport, NJ, and their children Tyler, Katie, and Sara; his son, Gardner (wife Tina) Andersen of Unionville, NC, and their children Eva and Reagan; his brother Harry (wife Elsa Quiles) Andersen of Odenton, MD; and his sister Dorothy Jean Murdough of Hillsboro, NH. John is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. Services are set for Saturday, June 18th, 2022, at 11:30 AM at East Washington Baptist Church in East Washington, NH. Interment to take place in the East Washington Cemetery. In honor of John’s love of animals and the excellent care he received at home during his final days, donations in John’s name may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care, Charlotte Region, www.hpccr.org or to a local animal shelter of your choice. John’s family has given the family of Lowe-Neddo Funeral Home the privilege of caring for him and for them.