Clifford John Pregent

Clifford was born on January 27, 1918 in Willimantic CT., the son of Edward and Nora (Herbert) Pregent. His family moved to Keene when Clifford was eight years of age. He attended St. Joseph Regional School in Keene. After graduating from St. Joseph, to help.support his family, Cliff worked various jobs including making coal deliveries by horse and wagon, working in the Gilsum, NH mica mine, the mica mill on Knight Street and maple sugaring with horse and wagon. He was also a volunteer in fighting the great Marlow Forest Fire of 1941.

Clifford enlisted in the United States Army on June 8, 1942, and served as a field lineman specialist during WWII. He was one of the many soldiers stationed in Panama guarding the Panama Canal. Later he was transferred to Germany as a trained lineman laying communication wire under combat conditions during the Rhineland campaign in Central Europe. He was honorably discharged on October 26, 1945, earning the rank of TEC 5. He was a lifetime member of the Gordon Bissell American Legion Keene Post #4.

Clifford worked as a machinist for over thirty years with the former Central Screw Company in Keene.

On September 23, 1944, Clifford married Caroline "Nickie" Nichols while he was on a ten-day furlough from the Army. They were married for 73 years and for 39 of those years, they raised their family on Winchester Court in Keene. During their life together, they enjoyed many years at their cottage and later retirement home at Sand Pond in Marlow. Here they hosted many family and friends over the years. They were an active part of the Sand Pond Community, and helped to preserve the lake for future generations to enjoy.

He enjoyed vegetable gardening in the summer and snow blowing in the winter, as well as daily walks. He was also an avid fan of NASCAR driver #48 Jimmie Johnson.

He and Caroline loved to square dance and were longtime members of the Monadnock Squares. He was a parishioner of St. Bernard Church in Keene, and a member of the National Rifle Association.

He will be greatly missed by many, especially his daughters, Pat Pregent of Bellows Falls, VT, Nora McCasland of Keene; his grandchildren, Cory Descoteau and his wife, Mimi, of Pittsburgh, PA, Timothy Descoteau and his partner, Erin Myhaver, of Keene, John Descoteau and his partner, Gina Pearce of NY, Joshua McCasland of Webb City, MO and his partner Eden Diab, Caroline Flynn and her husband, Courtney, of Hull, MA; his great-grandchildren, Dylan, Jack, Lachlyn, Henry, Katey, Evelyn; a sister-in-law, Janet Pregent of Keene; and many beloved nieces and nephews. His wife, Caroline; his brothers, Richard, George, and Francis Pregent; and his sisters, Thelma Schmalz, Veronica Barcome and Pearl Pregent who died as an infant, predeceased Clifford.

A graveside service with military honors will be held on Friday, January 27, 2023, at 1:00PM in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Main Street, Keene. Family and friends are welcome to attend. There are no public calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations may be made in Mr. Pregent’s memory to the Meals on Wheels Program, c/o Home Healthcare Hospice and Community Services, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431.