Chelsea, VT – John Joseph “Jack” Ducharme passed away at his home in Chelsea on October 9, 2026.
Jack was born on September 19, 1931 in Hartford, CT. He was the eldest son of Joseph and Marguerite “Ford” Ducharme. He grew up and graduated from Hall High School, in West Hartford CT, class of 1949. While still in high school, he joined the CT National Guard, a member of the military police company.
Upon graduating high school, he joined the U.S.M.C. on November 11, 1949. He became a Flight Equipment Chief, rank of Staff Sargent. He was trained to be a parachute rigger and had the privilege of jumping out of a perfectly sound flying plane. “One done, one enough,” he said. He earned his bottle of whiskey when a pilot had to ditch his plane as it was going down. It was customary to give the parachute rigger a nice bottle of whiskey if the parachute opened and worked 100%. Otherwise, no hooch!!
After an honorable discharge in January 1953, he and his sweetheart, Marie Petronella Silovich, were married in February 1953 in Miami, FL where they were living. Marie was a graduate of nursing school in Ohio, and working in Miami at Mercy Hospital. Yet times were tough, and he was unable to find work.
Upon returning to CT, he and Marie partnered with his father, Joe, in the sheet metal business in Canton, CT. Jack and Marie had three children, Michael, David, and Cheryl. After a courageous battle with cancer, Marie passed away in 1974 and is buried in Collinsville, CT.
Being an avid hunter, he spent many seasons deer hunting in Vermont, hunting and Vermont were his passion! Upon finding land, he built a house in Strafford. In 1975, he and his daughter, Cheryl, moved to Vermont.
In 1978 he met Linda Piper, a nurse and professional horse trainer, working in southern New Hampshire. They formed a partnership in property rental and restoration, continuing into properties of the surrounding towns of South Royalton, Tunbridge and West Fairlee, a total of seven, before finding and settling in Chelsea to retire. Jack and Linda were married in December 1986, and it was far from retirement! The property, an old farm, was wracked with neglect. But over the years, with work and TLC, it grew from 100 acres to 166 acres.
Jack started his second career when he was elected constable and joined the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, where he served for twenty years, doing prisoner transports, though more and more of his work involved serving civil and criminal process papers. He served four terms as elected High Bailiff. A very interesting line of work! If only he had written a book!!
He was a long-time member of the Masonic Lodge #54 in Strafford, VT. He was also a member of the American Legion Post #61 in Chelsea, VT. He was a self-made man with his nose to the grindstone as well as a numbers man – an entrepreneur of adventurous investments. He enjoyed many facets of life – but not until after the work was done! Hunting trips to Nevada and Maine, as well as winter visits to Florida with his daughter. He loved traveling to the islands – going to Mexico, Dominican Republic, Aruba and Jamaica were special times.
A highlight was a long trip to Europe and Australia with Linda, visiting the Island of Malta, where he was stationed while in the U.S.M.C.
Some of his happy days were spent on his John Deere 950 with grandchildren in tow. He loved managing his tree farm, maple sugaring and flipping rocks! You might have found him on the couch in recent years, but never when he was a young man!
Jack was predeceased by his parents, Joe and Marguerite; his brother, Donald Ford Ducharme; and his son, David Ducharme. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Linda; his daughter, Cheryl (Glenn) McKinley; his son, Michael Ducharme; and his grandsons, Brian and Kevin McKinley. He also leaves behind two great-grandchildren, Mason and Perry, as well as two other special children in his life, Dylan and Cameron. He is also survived by his two nieces, Lori and Amy.
The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff of the White River Junction Veterans Administration and Bayada Home Health for the compassionate care, support and kindness shown to Jack and his family throughout his journey.
Jack will be greatly missed, and his antics and accomplishments will be fondly remembered by family and friends. Burial will be in the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center, VT.
The Boardway and Cilley Funeral Home in Chelsea is in charge of arrangements. A private message of sympathy for the family can be shared at www.boardwayandcilley.com.
Plans to celebrate Jack’s life will be forthcoming.
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