Robert John Koning, 86, of Lincoln, New Hampshire, formerly of Carlisle, died at home May 19, 2024, with Marylou, the love of his life, and his family by his side.

Bob was born at home in Medford, MA on January 7, 1938, to Dutch immigrants, William and Marie Koning. His family moved to a farmhouse in Westford, MA  when he was five years old. He was the fifth of six siblings, all predeceased except for his younger sister and her husband, Marie and Frank Butman of Stuart, FL.

In 1956, he met his soulmate, Marylou Cann, a Carlisle resident. They married in 1959. After their marriage, they lived in Carlisle where they raised their four children, Robert Jr, Debra, Rick and Tanya.

Bob was a member of IBEW, Local 103, Boston, MA and worked in the electrical industry for over 51 years. In 1979, he founded his own company, RJ Koning Electric, locating his office in Carlisle so he could be near his favorite jobs - Fire Chief, Electrical Inspector and Building Commissioner for the Town of Carlisle.

In 1961, he began as a volunteer on the Carlisle Fire Department and in 1964 was appointed a firefighter. He became Deputy Chief, then in 1979 Chief of the Department. It was a job he truly loved and he was so disappointed when it was mandatory he retire at the age of 65. During his tenure, he was instrumental in the development of the EMS program and ambulance service for the community. He served for many years on the Emerson Hospital EMS Coordinators Group. He was elected Chair of the Metropolitan Boston Emergency Medical Service Council, which started the Critical Incident Stress debriefing program in our area. He also started the paramedic program out of Emerson Hospital or ALS (Advance Life Support) and he served as chair of Massachusetts Fire District 14.

In 2002, he received the Carlisle's Most Honored Citizen award.

Bob loved spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, skiing, hiking, kayaking, gardening and traveling. He sponsored a team for the Brief Case Race at Loon Mountain to raise money for the fight against breast cancer. He enjoyed being a member of Loon's Flying Fifties where he met many lifelong ski friends and became an accomplished skier.

When his grandchildren graduated from middle school, he and Marylou took them on special trips to unique places including Alaska, Costa Rica and The Galapagos Islands. He spent summers at his lake home on Lockes Island, Lake Winnipesaukee, surrounded by his huge, crazy, loud, lovable family, swimming, water skiing and boating.

Bob will be remembered for his warm smile, his hearty laugh and his willingness to always lend a helping hand. He was often called upon to help or "fix" things. He was an avid antique clock collector and keeper of the Town Clock until he turned the job over to Rob, his 13-year-old son.

In addition to his beloved wife Marylou, he is survived by his four children, Rob Koning, Jr and his wife Alison Carey of Carlisle, Debra Hankey and her husband Hank of Holderness, NH, Rick Koning and his wife Marcia of Hudson, NH, Tanya Pierce and her husband Chris of New Boston, NH, his seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren, Bobby Koning and his wife Jesslyn and their two boys, Harrison and Lincoln of Pepperell, MA, Alison Koning and her husband Will Krach of Pepperell, MA, Tyler Koning of Boston, MA, Samantha Hankey and her fiancé, Andy Mochitto, of Cambridge, MA, Isabella Hankey Krieger and her husband, Brendan of Denver, CO, Kaya Pierce and Willem Pierce of New Boston. as well as many nieces and nephews and great friends.

We will be gathering to share some of our favorite memories and stories, to laugh, cry and remember a wonderful person who will be greatly missed. Join us for a celebration of life at The First Religious Society, 27 School Street, Carlisle, MA, on Friday, June 28, 2024, at 10:00 AM. Interment will immediately follow at Green Cemetery. And after please join us at Clark Farm Market, 201 Bedford Street, Carlisle, MA, for lunch and more stories.

Donations may be made in his name to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD). theaftd.org or send a check to AFTD, 2700 Horizon Drive, Suite 120, King of Prussia, PA 19406 or CFRA (Carlisle Firefighter's Relief Association) P.O. Box 74, Carlisle, MA 01741 https://carlislefirerelief.squarespace.com/donate