William Michael Thevenin

He was born in Ford City, PA on September 1, 1943 the son of Harold J. and Ellen (Sullivan) Thevenin.

He grew up and attended schools in Ford City, PA and was a graduate of Ford City High School.

After high school, Mike enlisted in the Navy and proudly served his country for 20 years before being honorably discharged in 1983. In the Navy, he was known not only as a hard worker but a great chef and was often asked to prepare meals for special occasions with his squadron. Aside from his regular duties, Mike taught swimming to new recruits in boot camp (and later used these skills to teach his children to swim).

Mike met the love of his life, Annie-Jean, while he was on leave one weekend and they were married a few months later at St. Bernard’s Church in 1967. After the wedding they traveled throughout the United States as Mike was stationed in Puerto Rico, Patuxent River MD, Chicago IL, Detroit MI and Willow Grove PA. In 1970, their first daughter was born, with a son and another daughter soon to follow. Mike was proud of his children’s accomplishments and loved teaching them to swim, helping them with homework and gardening with them. He coached their t-ball and baseball teams and served as the president of their school’s PTA.

When he “retired”, Mike moved to Keene where his wife, Annie-Jean, had grown up. His first job in Keene was as the baker at the former Black Lantern Restaurant on route 12. He then became an appliance repairman for Sears before his final full time job at Timken as a machinist.

Mike’s Catholic faith was very important to him. He attended the Catholic Church every Sunday wherever he was stationed and in 1979 became a member of the Knights of Columbus. In Keene, he was very active with Council 819, serving as Grand Knight and being awarded “Family of the Year” by the state council. Mike enjoyed preparing the annual Turkey Raffle Dinners at the Council’s home on Marlboro Street and the camaraderie the Council offered. He was a communicant at St. Bernard’s Church and served as an usher at the 11:15 Mass on Sunday for many years.

Mike enjoyed giving back to his community. For many years he would collect leftover donuts and pastries at local convenience stores and bring them to the Community Kitchen, where they were greatly appreciated by the clients and volunteers. He also ran errands for those in need, never asking for anything in return. Mike regularly ran raffles to support the Red Cross program to send calling cards to our active military members.

Mike loved to cook and to garden. His sunflowers and roses were renowned -- many a table was graced with his cut flowers. Or the bounty from his garden. His famous walnut cookies and breads were a prize at family potlucks, especially at the holidays.

He is survived by two daughters; Michelle Thevenin of Keene, NH and Melinda Zavorotny and her husband Terry of Hinsdale, NH and a son, Michael Thevenin, of Troy, NH; one brother Joseph Thevenin and his wife Betty of Ford City, PA and three sisters; Joanne Thevenin of Florida; Patricia Hileman and her husband Richard of Englishtown, NJ, Mary Ellen Woodside and her husband Bill of Carlisle, PA; five grandchildren; Ryan Zavorotny and his wife Leonore, Darren Zavorotny, Michael Stone, Meghan Stone, and T. James Zavorotny; one great-grandson Zachery Zavorotny; many nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his wife, Annie-Jean (Hemphill) Thevenin and two brothers; Harold Thevenin and Charles Thevenin.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in St. Bernard’s Church, 185 Main Street, Keene, NH on Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. The Very Rev. Msgr. Daniel O. Lamothe will be the celebrant. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Monadnock View Cemetery, Park Avenue, West Keene. Family and friends are invited to call at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene, on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made in his name to the Community Kitchen, PO Box 1315, Keene, NH 03431.