Nathan Barker Gagne

Nathan Barker Gagne, 46, of Hollis, NH, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on November 16, 2025. He was born in Nashua on March 22, 1979, to Kathy and Doug Gagne. As a child, Nate kept his parents on their toes, but he grew into a fiercely loyal, kind-hearted, and deeply loving man.

Nate married his beautiful wife, Becky, in 2005 and spent the last 20 years protecting her, making her laugh, and loving her with every bit of his big heart. Together they filled a home with warmth, humor, delicious meals, and unwavering devotion.

The greatest joy of Nate’s life was being a father to their son, Liam, whose hockey games, milestones, and late-night conversations were the center of his world. Nate’s pride in Liam was boundless and apparent to everyone that met him.

An avid reader and tinkerer, Nate was generally too damned smart for his own good (and he was pretty smart). He was a gifted cook who loved to dirty every dish in the house while creating amazing meals for friends and family. His love of good beer inspired countless experiments with his brother, Andrew, in their home brew lab. He loved challenging his sister, Emily, to a daily Wordle contest, which he usually won. He appreciated classic rock, bluegrass, and Americana, and enjoyed playing the guitar.

Nate also loved the outdoors. He found joy in skiing, white-water rafting, 4-wheelng, exploring back roads, and taking in the beauty of New England. Some of his happiest moments were spent sitting by a fire, whether in the backyard, or on a camping trip, listening to music, sharing stories, laughter, and long conversations with the many friends who were like family to him.

A devoted hockey dad, Nate and Becky spent their weekends traveling across New England, cheering proudly from the stands as Liam defended the goal.

Nate graduated from Hollis/Brookline High School, class of 1997. Believing he could teach himself better than any university, he carved out a successful career in computer science through determination and natural curiosity. For the last 10+ years, he served as the IT Systems Manager for the Town of Bedford, NH, where his calm expertise, humor, problem-solving skills will be deeply missed.

In addition to his beloved wife, Becky, and son, Liam, Nate is survived by his parents, Kathy and Doug Gagne; his sister, Emily Ekis (Nathan); his brother, Andrew Gagne; and his adored niece and nephew, Sydney and Arlo Ekis. He will be dearly missed by his many aunts, uncles and cousins, including his aunt Judy McGonigle, who was a beloved second mom to him, and his cousin, Bill Traver, who loved him like a brother. His cherished in-laws embraced him as their own; his mother-in-law Diane Romanowski and her partner, Ralph Caster, along with his brother-in-law, Scott Sherman (Jackie) and his nephews, Scott-Paul and Jack. His

best friend, Bob Desrosiers, has been by his side since 1985. Nate’s dog, Bruin, will miss their frequent car rides to Buckley’s. His many friends were his extended family; he loved them all.

When diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022, Nate was determined to fight it as long as he could, hopefully yet realistic during the many treatments and trials. And as he was fighting, he was also determined to live his life to the fullest, never missing an opportunity for providing a great meal to family and friends, a timely joke, or the chance to say “love you”. A celebration of Nate’s life will be held December 28th from 12-3 at Spyglass Brewing, giving friends and family the opportunity to gather, share memories, and honor his remarkable spirit. If you’d like to honor Nate in your own way, invite some friends for dinner. Make a mess in the kitchen. Savor the moment. And raise a glass to good health.

Please consider a donation to The Front Door Agency in Nashua, NH in Nate’s memory.

The Farwell Funeral Service, 18 Lock Street, Nashua, assisted the family with arrangements. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.farwellfuneralservice.com