John Joseph Williams

Born on August 19, 1940, in Ferndale, MI, to John Williams, a carpenter, and Catherine (Moran) Williams, John grew up in Detroit, MI, where he made many lifelong friends and memories. He was a 1958 graduate of Saint Agatha’s High School and served 2 years in the U.S. Army, receiving an honorable discharge, before working his way through the University of Detroit, graduating in 1965 with a business degree. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Detroit College of Law in 1975 after attending night classes while working full-time at the Detroit assessor’s office, an accomplishment of which he remained especially proud.

John joined the Hartford Fire Insurance Company as a staff attorney in 1977, and in 1979 relocated to Lebanon, CT, to become a bond claims attorney at the company’s Hartford office. There he met his wife, Karen (Somers) Williams, and after marrying in 1980, they welcomed two children, John “Jack” Williams of Morrisville, VT, and Emily (Williams) Andrukaitis of Nashua, NH. In 1988 the family moved to Keene, where John managed the bond claims department at the Peerless Insurance Company (later part of Liberty Mutual) until retiring in 2004, though he still took work as a surety bond consultant.

Among family, friends, and colleagues, John was known for his practicality, humor, and originality as well as his hard work, perseverance, and independence. An avid storyteller, carpenter, and woodworker, he loved recounting episodes from his varied and full life and making furniture; following in his father’s footsteps, he built a house for his family in Lebanon himself. He was deeply fond of his family’s sheep dog, Annie, and enjoyed cooking meals from his childhood. He always had a book near his favorite chair or on his night table.

In retirement John enjoyed road tripping through California, Montana, and the Four Corners and visiting distant friends and family, as well as spending winters in Florida and Arizona with his wife. He passed many, many happy hours on the phone with his extended family and his friends from childhood, law school, Lebanon, and his Peerless years.

John often said the best decision he ever made was marrying Karen, and he took great pride in his children and granddaughter. He made special memories as Uncle John to his six nieces and his nephew. He greatly valued his friends and large extended family, and he especially looked forward to holidays and family celebrations, when he could spend time with the people most important to him while enjoying good food.

John is survived by his wife; children; daughter-in-law, Meredith Williams; son-in-law, Jason Andrukaitis; granddaughter, Vivian Andrukaitis; nieces, Lisa White Espinoza, Amy Newell, Kara Somers-McKeever, Katie White Vache, Christine White, and Coleen White; and nephew, Charles White. He was predeceased by his sister, Kathleen (Williams) White.

John was laid to rest in Marion, MA, near his wife’s family, following a private service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association (donate.diabetes.org), PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023.