Northwood – Elmer D. Tasker, ‘The Man with the Tin Hat’, 94, passed away on the 13th of August, 2014 at the Epsom Healthcare Center, after a period of failing health. Born September 29, 1919 and raised on a farm on Jenness Pond in Northwood, Elmer was one of seven children born to Clara and Elmer Tasker, Sr. He attended Northwood schools, graduating from Coe’s Academy, now Coe-Brown Academy, in 1937. After serving in World War II from 1940 to 1945, Elmer and his brother Murray founded Tasker’s Well. Elmer met his wife Edith (Taylor) at the age of 30 and they were married in December of 1949. While Edith raised their children and kept the company books, Elmer expanded the company and became an icon in the well drilling industry. After being nominated by Governor John Sununu in 1983, Elmer served for 11 years as the Well Driller Member of the NH Water Well Board. Elmer was recognized in 1996 by the NH Water Well Association for his dedication and devotion to the water well industry. The Northwood Chamber of Commerce honored Elmer by naming him the 1996-97 Citizen of the Year. Elmer created the unique company motto “We need your business, our business is going in the hole.” Over the years, Elmer and the company have been featured in numerous articles in national trade magazines and state-wide newspapers. The most exciting and probably Elmer's favorites were for the company’s 50th anniversary in 1997. These articles, as well as numerous photos of Elmer over the years, can be seen on the company’s website at taskerswell.com. As head of Tasker's Well Company for its first 40 years, some of Elmer’s many roles included well driller, mechanic and salesman. He witnessed the old cable tool ‘pounders’ evolve into today’s high-tech rotary drill rigs. Many of the workers he trained over the years went on to establish their own companies. During his retirement Elmer continued to have an interest in the company, now in its 67th year of business. He relentlessly called his sons Dan and Jeff, current owners, at the end of the day to see how things went on the job site. Elmer enjoyed politics, watching the news, and being known famously throughout the state as ‘The Man with the Tin Hat.’ Elmer was predeceased by his loving wife Edith, who died on December 12, 2008 and his stepdaughter Martha Hossain, who died earlier this year. He is survived by his three sons, Daniel and his wife Melinda, Jeffrey and his wife Diane, and Kevin, all of Northwood; step-daughter Lana Thomas and her husband Ted of Sanford, FL; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; 1 great great-grandchild; nieces June Leone and Pat Sweisthal and her husband Hank, both of Northwood; plus many nieces and nephews. Services in memory of Elmer's life will be held at Purdy Memorial Chapel, 2 Concord Road, Lee, NH on Friday, August 22, 2014. There will be a calling hour at 10:00 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Elmer's memory to the Advent Christian Church, c/o Treasurer, PO Box 115, Northwood, NH 03261 or the Northwood Food Pantry, c/o Gayle Robbins-Monteith, Treasurer, 734 1st NH Tpk, Northwood, NH 03261.