BY SUSAN WARE

Chances are that if you traveled down Mountain Road in Epsom, you may have stopped at Pete Bosiak’s farm stand.

Bosiak, a three-term Epsom selectman, used the honor system at his farm stand. He liked things the old-fashioned way. Bosiak, 81,  passed away on June 23.

“He was completely old school. He definitely brought a different perspective to the board,” said Epsom Selectman Bob McKechnie.

McKechnie recalled that Bosiak was always protective of the schools, and that he hated the idea of gambling in the schools. Bosiak considered fundraising raffles to be gambling, said McKechie.

“He was old fashioned, very old school. He did not like tax increases and definitely worked to keep taxes down. He will really be missed,” said McKechnie.

When not serving on the Board of Selectmen, Bosiak, an Army veteran, was a member of the Elwood Wells American Legion Post 112 of Epsom, a member of St. Joseph’s Church where he served as a Eucharistic minister.

Bosiak was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 11606 of Northwood-Pittsfield and a participant in the Epsom Circle Breakfast Club.

But beyond his community duties, Bosiak’s passion was farming.

He tended hay fields at his Mountain Road farm where he lived for more than 40 years  and used the hay to feed the dozen Hereford cows he kept.

He had a large vegetable garden and passed around the bounty to his five children and their families.

What they couldn’t use, he sold at his roadside farm stand.

“I’ve known Pete all of my life. He is a part of the community and will be greatly missed,” said Joni Kitson, chairman of the Board of Selectmen.

Joanne Randall said she had only attended a handful of meetings with Bosiak before he was hospitalized.

“He tried to do his best for a community that he loved and I have great respect for that,” she said.

Bosiak was the husband of the late Evelyn (Vogel) Bosiak, who died in 1990.

Members of his surviving family include his three sons, William J. Bosiak of Epsom, George “Tom” Bosiak of Epsom and Stephen P. Bosiak of Denver, N.C.; two daughters, Barbara Bailey of Loudon and Elizabeth Bosiak of Epsom; and nine grandchildren. He is also survived by his special companion, Margaret Findlay of Epsom; a brother, Frank C. Bosiak Sr. of Gilmanton; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a brother, Joseph Bosiak, and a sister, Ann Byk. He was buried at New Rye Cemetery, Epsom.