Troy, NH – Wayne David Kullgren (born August 11, 1957) was the very definition of a hardworking man. He took great pride in mastering his hard attained trade as a heat technician, a career that reflected both his dedication and his ingenuity. At home, he was a skilled handyman with a well-worn tool belt. He rarely encountered a project he couldn’t tackle from alterations to his Jeep and fishing boat to renovations in his home. In those times when his health kept him from the outdoors and larger projects, he put his passion for working with his hands into making gifts from leather and his own fishing lures.
Wayne treated his friends like family and found genuine joy in sharing his skills and passions with those around him. When it was time to step away from work, Wayne found peace in the outdoors. He is well remembered for the wide smile that would come across his face on the shore-line or in his boat and for his quiet steady presence while moving through the woods.
As a father, Wayne believed his children could do anything. They will forever remember his singing silly songs while cooking at the grill, laughing his ridiculous slapstick induced laugh, his arms and hands covered in dish-soap-suds as he chased them around their home, and a myriad of giggle fit inducing antics.
Wayne treasured spending time with his children and freely conveyed his pride in them. He traveled to South Carolina to hunt with Shawn. He spent time with Stacey tackling farm projects-including shearing alpacas and building chicken coops. He was always planning his next trip to Florida to visit Joni and her husband, Ryan, and enjoy the presence of his grand-children. He spoke with each of his children at least once, often several times a week.
Wayne was especially proud of being a grandfather. He took great care in preparing fishing gear and even shipped it to Florida so his grandson and granddaughter could learn to fish with the “proper” tools-just as he believed it should be done.
Wayne was predeceased by his parents, Howard and Barbara (Fitzgibbon) Kullgren; two brothers-in-law, Robert Walkonen, and James (Jim) Inman; as well as his former mother-in-law, Judy Tieger. Shortly after Wayne’s death, on January 29, 2026, his former wife, Julie (Cramb) Pillsbury, passed away.
Wayne is survived by his children and grandchildren: Stacey Kullgren and her partner, Sue Vincent, of Winchester, NH; Joni Schoeneck, her husband Ryan, and their children, Leo and Alexandra, of Coral Springs, FL; Shawn Kullgren of Greer, SC and his daughter Jaymon Taylor of Jaffrey, NH. He is also survived by three siblings and their children: John Kullgren of Antrim, NH (Isaac and Jennifer); Christine Inman of Jaffrey, NH (Joshua and Nicholas); and Scott Kullgren of Largo, FL (Matthew and Michael).
Wayne died on January 7, 2026, after a massive stroke. He died surrounded in love, care, and respect by family and his close friend, Thomas Clarke of Winchendon, MA.
A ceremony honoring Wayne’s life will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in Conant Cemetery on Straton Road in Jaffrey, NH. Following the service, at approximately 11:15 a.m., refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall of the United Church of Jaffrey, 54 Main Street, Jaffrey, NH. All are welcome to attend either or both. The family is grateful to the Rev. Bill Beardslee of Warren, NH, for officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to honor Wayne’s memory by spending time outdoors or lending a helping hand, as he so often did. Donations in his honor can be made to the Food Pantry of the Federated Church of Marlborough, 16 Pleasant Street, Marlborough NH.
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