Ossipee — December 23, 2009 — Peter A. Olkkola, 69, died from cancer (mesothelioma) on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009. Peter was surrounded by family and friends in his home in Ossipee as he passed. He was born in West Yarmouth, Mass., on Cape Cod, on Dec. 26, 1939 to Ruth and Eino Olkkola. In 1958, Peter graduated from Dennis Yarmouth High School and served in local law enforcement as a police officer. In 1967, Peter was married to Ann (Wiley) Olkkola of Dennisport, Mass.
Peter’s desire for a quiet life in an untouched natural environment brought him from Cape Cod to New Hampshire in 1974. Peter and Ann owned and operated both the Wakefield Inn in Wakefield and Moulton’s Store in Ossipee. In 1978, Ann and Peter moved their young family to Walker Hill Road in Ossipee, where they began a 30-year journey of friendship, community involvement and civic contributions.
Peter’s professional service included 20 years as the supervisor of legalized gambling for the New Hampshire Department of Safety and several years as deputy sheriff of Carroll County. He was also a member of the National Association of Regulatory Gambling.
Peter displayed his personal conviction for fair and transparent municipal government in his extensive work within local politics. Peter embraced the responsibility of his positions and considered each appointment to be a privilege to serve those around him.
His appointments as an elected official included: Carroll County commissioner (one term), Ossipee selectman (three terms), Ossipee Conservation Commission (16 years), Ossipee Cemetery Commission, University Cooperative Extension Advisory Council, International Paper Advisory Council and Huggins Hospital Board of Trustees. He was also a member of the Howard Lodge A.F. & A.M of South Yarmouth, Mass.
Peter balanced his extensive service and community activities with quiet time spent working on his farm in Ossipee. His interests included maintaining his vegetable garden, adding to his various collections and in the spring he loved spending time in his sugar shack making maple syrup. Peter was an active maple syrup producer for over 25 years; he acted as a member of the board of directors for the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association.
Peter is survived by family and friends who all have been positively influenced from the life he lived: wife, Ann (Wiley) Olkkola, of Ossipee; three sons and daughters-in-law and six grandchildren, Jared and Lucy and daughters Phoebe and Emelia of Dover, Justin and Sarah and children Tyler and Alexis of Ossipee, and Jake and Michelle and children Caroline and Jed of Woolwich, Maine; sister and brother-in-law, Connie and Robert Munro of Salem, Mass.; brother and sister-in-law, E. Richard and Janet Olkkola of Harwich, Mass.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, David and Karen Wiley of Melvin Village; and father-in-law, Joseph Wiley of Ossipee. Extended family includes nephews and nieces. Friends and colleagues are numerous, and each were deeply appreciated by Peter for their contribution to his rich life.
All are invited to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Peter at calling hours at Lord Funeral Home in Wolfeboro on Wednesday, Dec. 23, from noon to 2 p.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m.
Donations in his memory may be made to VNA-Hospice of Southern Carroll County, P.O. Box 1620, Wolfeboro, NH 03894, or Ossipee Historical Society, Center Ossipee, NH 03814.