John R. Asplund, 73, of Holden, passed away on Thursday, August 31, 2017 at UMass Memorial Medical Center-University Campus, Worcester, after a long illness.  He was born in Worcester, son of Sanfrid E. and Elsie M. (Anderson) Asplund, and lived in Leicester several years before moving to Holden about 65 years ago.

John was a graduate of Wachusett Regional High School, class of 1961 and Worcester Junior College with a degree in Civil Engineering.  After high school, he worked as a carpenter for Dalco Construction Co., F.W. Madigan Construction Co., and as a construction superintendent for E.J. Cross Co. in Worcester.  He owned and operated Asplund Building Corporation in Holden for many years, retiring in 2000.

He proudly served his country in the 26th Aviation Battalion of the Army National Guard as a helicopter crew chief from 1964 to 1970.  He achieved an Expert Badge with Rifle.

John was a former member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Worcester and St. Francis Episcopal Church in Holden; the Association of General Contractors of Mass., the American Society of Civil Engineers, a retired member of the Mass. Carpenters Union Local 107 and a current member of the Worcester County Model A Club, the Model A Ford Club of America, the National Rifle Association and the American Legion Post 189 in Sterling.

He leaves his wife of 51 years, Carol A. (Andersen) Asplund;  three sons, Erick S. Asplund and his wife, Ramona Marsden Asplund of Phoenix, Kurt W. Asplund and his wife, Anne O’Sullivan Asplund of East Lyme, CT and Dana R. Asplund of North Grafton; two brothers, Robert W. Asplund of Williamsport, PA and David N. Asplund of Brimfield; two sisters, Evelyn P. Croteau of Whitinsville and Ellen M. Racine of Northborough.  A sister, Linda A. Stappenbeck predeceased him.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 7th in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden.  A funeral service in celebration of John’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 8th in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, 67 Chester St., Worcester.  Burial will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, 217 Richards Avenue, Paxton.  Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220-3049.