North Berwick, ME – John Robert Chase, Sr., 72, of North Berwick and a former long-time resident of North Hampton, passed away suddenly at his home on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. John was born on February 20, 1947 in Exeter, NH, a son of the late Paul K. and Nathalie (Syphers) Chase, Sr. John spent some of his youth in Connecticut with his family moving to Greenland when he was in his early teens. He graduated from Portsmouth High School with the Class of 1965 and shortly after graduation, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
He joined the Exeter Police Department after leaving the Marines and in 1970, married his late wife, Brenda M. (Howard) Chase. After a couple of years in Exeter, John took a position with the Greenland, NH Police Department and served his community as their Chief of Police. He went on to become a member of the North Hampton, NH Police Department for the next 20 years, then served as a Sergeant with the Rockingham County Sherriff.
He eventually retired from law enforcement in the early 1990s. He and Brenda relocated to Florida where John worked security at Disneyworld. Upon Brenda’s death in 2006, John came home to New England and kept busy as the houseman at the Residence Inn in Portsmouth and in parts delivery with Al’s Automotive of Exeter.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn (Ireland) Chase of North Berwick, his son John “Jay” Chase Jr. and his wife Lisa of Berwick, ME, his daughter Sarah Welch and her husband John of Nottingham, NH, his brother Wayne Chase and his wife Karen of Rocky Mount, NC and his sister Sharon Littlefield and her husband Ray of Portsmouth, NH. John also leaves his grandchildren Emily Welch and Alicia Cadwell, his sister-in-law Jean Chase, his step-son Brian Jones, a special little boy named Adam Jenkins whom shared a grandfather-grandchild relationship with John and Michaela Overhulser, a young lady that he and Marilyn helped to raise and who meant so much to John as well as several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and his first wife Brenda, John was predeceased by his brother, Paul K. Chase, Jr. A celebration of John’s life will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at the Connect Community Church, 200 Chase Dr., Portsmouth, NH 03801.
Graveside services will be held in the spring so please check back for date and time. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Chief Michael Maloney Memorial Fund PO Box 446, Greenland, NH 03840. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of John Robert Chase Sr. please visit our Sympathy Store.
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