William Dukette
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William "Duke" Dukette, formerly of Boscawen, died on December 8, 2020 at the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton.
Duke was born August 19, 1937 in Boscawen, graduated from Penacook High School in 1954, and was a U.S. Army veteran. Duke worked for Hoyt Electrical, Beede Electrical, Rivco Millworks and Vets Market in Penacook as well as Alan's Restaurant of Boscawen. Duke spent some years living in Utah and North Carolina, but the Penacook / Boscawen NH community was home.
Duke was best known as the #1 fan of all things Merrimack Valley High School sports. Duke had his spot in the baseball dugout, basketball bench, and front seat of the bus for away games, always with bubble gum for the kids and coaches. Dating back more than 50 years, he had a tradition of picking one, sometimes two lucky student athletes from each class year, and he would subtly claim them as his own. While Duke never had children of his own, this tradition means that he had several dozens of now adult men and women who regarded him as a second Dad, Uncle Duke, and/or great friend.
Never having a driver license, Duke was an avid hitchhiker and he generally didn't walk very far before some local picked him up. He was a social butterfly who was often hitchhiking in order to visit the household of one of his claimed MV children. While he generally lived alone, he had a lot of choices for regular visits, often just to chat over a cup of coffee. Duke was also an avid pen pal and he used this method to attempt to keep in touch with all he held dear. In his quiet times, Duke was an avid reader, classic movie buff and long-time Cleveland Indians fan since the days of Bob Feller.
Duke was predeceased by his mother Mary Towle, his father George Dukette, brothers Harry, Raymond, Richard, Norman and Tommy Dukette. A burial ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday June 22, 3:00 at Beaver Dam Cemetery in Webster, arranged by Wendell Butt Funeral Home of Penacook.