EAGLE LAKE – Eddie Belanger, 91, died May 30, 2005, in the house in which he was born. Mr. Belanger was born Nov. 26, 1913, in Eagle Lake, the son of Isidore and Delina (Gagnon) Belanger. He attended high school in Fort Kent, college in Bourget, Quebec and St. Joseph’s College in Moncton, New Brunswick. At college, Eddie played for the hockey team. He was also a pitcher at college and on the Eagle Lake baseball team. The Depression prematurely ended his college career, so he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, working in New Hampshire. When World War II broke out he became a welder working on the Liberty ships in South Portland until 1943 when he and his wife, Maureen, returned to Eagle Lake to take over the family farm for his ailing parents. He was employed at the Eagle Lake mill and also served as the town manager for six years. Later he became a bookkeeper for Roland Perreault’s woods operation for another six-year period. Eddie then went on to become town manager in Ashland from 1962 to 1966. His career continued to Van Buren when he was manager from 1966 to 1978. He then returned to Ashland until his retirement in 1982. Even after retirement he was drafted to work in Van Buren for an 18-month period as manager. Eddie has also been an active member of Toastmasters Club and the Rotary Club, both of Ashland. He also belonged to the Knights of Columbus in the Fourth Degree Council No. 0352 of Fort Kent. Since his second retirement he and Maureen took many trips around the country including two trips to Hawaii. He especially enjoyed the trips taken with his old friend, Dr. Paul Cyr. He is survived by his wife, Maureen of 65 years; sons, Ronnie of Bridgton, Clayton of Van Buren, Mark of Chazy, N.Y.; and a daughter, Carol, of West Baldwin; many nieces and nephews; several grandchildren and an increasing list of great-grandchildren. Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Daigle & Nadeau Funeral Home in Fort Kent, and 8:30 a.m. Friday until the time of departure for Eagle Lake. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 .am. Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Eagle Lake, with the Rev. Bill Labbe officiating. Committal service will follow with full Fourth Degree Honors in the parish cemetery. Those who wish may donate in his memory to Visiting Nurses of Aroostook/Hospice of Aroostook, P.O. Box 688, Caribou, ME 04736. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. The family wishes to acknowledge, with gratitude, all the help extended by our uncle and aunt, Clarence and Rolande Fournier and by the many wonderful people at Hospice of Aroostook and the Visiting Nurses of Aroostook.
EDDIE BELANGER
