James "Jim" E. Studer, 62, a 38 year resident of East Derry, NH, died Tuesday, March 30, 2010 in the Parkland Medical Center, Derry. He was born in Central Falls, RI on April 21, 1947, son of the late Joseph M. and Lillian G. (Martel) Studer, Jr. Mr. Studer graduated from E. Providence High School and later earned his Engineering Degree from UNH. He served two tours in Vietnam with the U.S. Army under General William Westmoreland. He earned the bronze star medal and two purple hearts for his service. Following his discharge he went to work for 35 years for Raytheon, mainly for IADC in Andover, MA. Jim was a skilled craftsman and enjoyed woodworking. He could make anything from furniture and curio cabinets to toy boxes for his grandsons. He was a communicant of St. Thomas Aquinas Church and the American Legion Post #9, both in Derry. Jim was also a social butterfly, enjoying coffee with the boys at the local Derry hot spots. He liked cats as he and his wife Paula showed their Ragdoll cats in competitions, but he loved cars. They enjoyed their last summer together in their 50th anniversary candy apple red corvette convertible that they bought to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Paula E. (Simkonis) Studer of E. Derry, a son, Michael J. Studer and his wife Renee of Manchester, NH, two grandsons, Aiden and Chase Studer, both of Manchester, a sister, Lynn Marie Joubert of Coventry, RI as well as nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visiting hours were held on Monday, April 5, 2010 from 2-4 and 6-8pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated 10:00am Tuesday in St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 26 Crystal Ave., Derry. Burial with military honors followed in the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen, NH. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01710 or to the New England Heart Institute Foundation, 100 McGregor St., Manchester, NH 03102.