Leonard Kiesman

FRYEBURG — Leonard Roland Kiesman, 83, of Fryeburg, died peacefully Tuesday morning, March 5, 2013, at the Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., surrounded by his loving family.

Len was a lifelong resident of Fryeburg and loved his "hometown." He graduated from Fryeburg Academy in the class of 1948, and married his high school sweetheart, Doris Devine. They enjoyed 51 years of marriage before her death in 1999. Len worked hard and constantly to support and care for his family. His earliest career was as a logger working for Cleveland Robbins of West Fryeburg and later worked several years at Birch Craft in Conway, N.H. In 1961 he worked for Diamond National in Fryeburg as foreman of the mill. In 1968 he started his own carpentry business, passing his skills onto his sons over the years. From the late ’70s through the '80s he was a valued employee of Indian Acres and Forest Acres in Fryeburg as their maintenance director. From 1989 to 1999, he delivered rural route mail in Fryeburg for the U.S. Postal Service, and finally retired at the age of 70.

Through the years he enjoyed  gardening and raising his farm animals and was also an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt and fish and finally bagged his moose in 2002. He also enjoyed country music. Some of his many talents included writing poetry, drawing and especially wood carving. Many people remember enjoying his rhythmic entertaining poems that became a town meeting tradition started by the late Carlton Mills. They are still available in the archives for reading at the Fryeburg Library. Some of his carving work can still be seen at the entrance of Indian Acres, his fourth set of hand-carved totem poles as a welcome for the camp.

Len was predeceased by his wife Doris "Devine" Kiesman; his daughter Joyce Marie; brothers Lawrence, Fredrick and sister Dorothy; and his parents Lester and Eldora "Richardson" Kiesman.

He is survived by his brother Gerald "Gay" Kiesman of Fryeburg; his sons Daniel of Sebago, Roger and his wife Wanda of Stow, Karl of Fryeburg, Richard and his wife Sue of Fryeburg; and daughter Donna Woodward of Fryeburg; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins; his dear friend Elery Lawrence; sister-in-laws Sadie Brown, Mary Currie and husband James of Fryeburg, Ida Shepard of Mass., Sylvia Chandler of Va., Ginny Picarazzi of Conn.; and brothers-in-law Mario Picarazzi and Guido Picarazzi of Conn.

Visiting hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 8, at Wood Funeral Home, 9 Warren Street, Fryeburg. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 9, at Fryeburg New Church, Oxford Street, Fryeburg. A spring burial will be held in Pine Grove Cemetery, Fryeburg. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Fryeburg Rescue, P.O. Box 177, Fryeburg, ME 04037. Len was very grateful for their professional care and services. Arrangements are made with Wood Funeral Home. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.woodfuneralhome.org