L. Emile Dube, 74, of Derry, NH died Monday June 6, 2005 at his home. Mr. Dube was born in Salem, NH on February 10, 1931 a son of the late Emile A. and Blanche (Boucher) Dube. He had been a resident of Derry for the past six years, formerly living in Salem for many years. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict where he served as a paratrooper with the 11th Airborne Division, 187th Regimental Combat Team. During his duty in the Korean Conflict, he made two combat jumps in regimental size. Each jump consisted of approximately 3,000 paratroopers, for which he received two Combat Jumpstars. These were the last regimental size combat jumps the Army has made up to the present time. He also received the Infantryman’s Badge. After returning from the Korean Conflict, his unit was assigned to develop tactics in an atomic battlefield. He participated in several actual atomic bomb detonations to determine soldiers vulnerability to nuclear weapons. He was an active member of the VFW post #8546 of Salem and during his 50 years as a life member held many positions, from Quartermaster to Post Commander. He was serving as Post Quartermaster at the time of his death. After his service in the military he went into the roofing business under the company name of L. Emile Dube and Sons Roofing. He roofed many houses and businesses in the Southern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts area. In addition, he held memberships in the Manchester Elks, the American Legion Post 27 of Londonderry and was a mason at the Spicket Lodge in Salem.
He is survived by his wife, Arlene B. (Gavel) Dube of Derry, two sons, Lionel E. Dube, Jr. and his wife Belkas of Pembroke Pines, FL, Leonard Dube and his wife Paula of Groveland, MA, two daughters, Lynne Dube of Salem, Louise Mehm and her husband Frank of Londonderry, one stepson, Alan Morrison and his wife Connie of Peabody, MA, nine grandchildren, one great grandson, three step grandchildren, one brother, F.P. “Buck” Dube and his wife Mitzi of Hilton Head, SC, two sisters, Jacqueline DeNardis and her husband Joseph of Stafford Springs, CT, Pauline Shea and her husband Morton of Grantham, NH, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Also extended family and loving caregivers, Bernie and Brenda Thomas of Warner, NH. He was predeceased by his first wife, Lorraine (Gagne) Dube.
A funeral liturgy will be offered on Thursday June 9th at 9:30am in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, E. Derry. Friends may call on Wednesday from 4 - 8pm in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Operation Uplink, C/O Quartermaster VFW, 40 N. Broadway, Salem, NH 03079. (This fund provides phone cards for US soldiers serving in Iraq.)