FINLAND DUMOND

FORT KENT – Finland Dumond, 87, was called to his eternal reward May 2, 2007, at a long-term health care facility in Madawaska, after a long illness. He was born April 16, 1920, in Fort Kent, the son of George and Emma (Austin) Dumond and the oldest in a family of 10 children. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and caretakers. He enrolled in Fort Kent High School in 1934, determined to get an education despite all the obstacles that faced him. With no public transportation at the time, he had to walk five miles one way to school and back every day, many times, only to find out, during the winter months, that there was no school that day. After graduating he joined the United States Civilian Conservation Corps, the CCC; where he served in Chattum, N.H., and Southwest Harbor, holding the highest rank attainable. He was discharged in 1941, because he developed a work related lung infection. He registered for military service, but was not accepted due to his lung condition. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he was accepted to serve by convincing the recruiter that he had something worthwhile to contribute to his country despite his lung problems. After basic training, he was assigned to the 98th Infantry Division, later assigned to the Quartermaster Transportation Co., as a vehicle driver of military staff cars. While in the European War Theater of operations he also served in the 15th Army and the 7th Army Divisions, which were all under the 6th Army Group. His tour of duty took him to Algeria, Morocco, Algiers, Italy, France, and Germany. During his tour in France he was assigned as driver to the commander in chief of the French Allied Forces, Gen. Lattre de Tassigny. It was during this time that he met the personal secretary of Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, who happened to be a woman from Fort Kent, WAC Capt. Mattie Pinette. At the conclusion of the war and while still in France, he was awarded the Croix de Guerres, with the Silver Star by the French Army. He was also decorated with the Good Conduct and Victory medals, and the American and European Theater Campaign medals. After his tour of duty he came back to the U.S. and attended the Spartan School of Aeronautical Engineering and Electronics, Tulsa, Okla. After graduating, he was hired by Guy Daigle and worked for Daigle and Bouchard, Fort Kent, as a radio and television repairman and communications technician for 17 years. It was at this time that he opened his own business, Fin’s Electronics. He continued to serve the residents and businesses of Fort Kent and the surrounding communities for 17 years until his retirement in 1981. A humble man, Fin will be remembered for his gentleness, his dry sense of humor, and his great reverence for nature. His love of birds and gardening were some of his many hobbies. One of his most interesting projects was trying to find the location of the flagpole erected on the corner of the military parade grounds during the Bloodless Aroostook War of 1842. Allegedly a tin box containing historical records, officer’s names, coins, etc., was buried beneath the flagpole. He was a historian in his own time. He loved his community and had a high respect for the American flag. Up until his health no longer permitted, he would raise and lower flags around town daily, repairing or removing when they got torn or tattered. He also assisted many families with their family genealogies and during the Dumont family reunion, held in Madawaska in 1999, provided much of the information needed to compile the Dumont publication. An avid HAM radio operator, upon returning from the electronics school, he built his own HAM radio transmitter/receiver. Through the years Finland received several awards from the Amateur Radio League and nation organizations of HAM radio operators for helping save lives of people caught in unusual situations. As the local civil defense coordinator, he worked closely with Amateur Radio Civil Emergency Service during the Cold War years. Fin talked daily to HAM radio operators in many countries of the world, not to mention astronauts on the space shuttles. For 10 years he taught adult education classes on electronics and Morse code. More than 100 of his students obtained their licenses, many are still HAM radio operators today. He is also fondly remembered for having given a lifetime of service to his community. Every year during the Christmas season he would organize an afternoon of movies at the armory for the children of the area and invite Santa for a visit. The family will forever be grateful for the loving care he provided for his mother in her elderly years. His faith in God never wavered. Up until his illness, Fin was a communicant of St. Louis Catholic Church, Fort Kent. He was a 3rd degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1934 and a 60-year member of both the American Legion Post 133 and VFW Post 9609, Fort Kent. He was also a member of the St. John Valley HAM Radio Association. In 1990, he was presented a merit award for his outstanding community services by the Greater Area Fort Kent Area Chamber of Commerce. In May 2001, due to failing health, Fin entered High View Manor, Madawaska, where he kept himself occupied with his HAM radio. He kept in touch with his family and friends through computer e-mails. He wrote his memoirs and shared them with his family. His warm smile and personality will forever remain with those who knew him. Finland is survived by three sisters, Larette Babkirk of Scarborough, Delores Levecque of Augusta and Joan Palmer of Hampden; four brothers, Roland and his wife, Bernice, Lloyd Dumond, both of Fort Kent, Claude and his wife, Annette, of New Canada and Philip of Escourt Station; a brother-in-law, Roderick Breau of Edmunston, New Brunswick; special aunt, Alfreda Dumond of Fort Kent, many nieces, nephew and cousins. He was predeceased by his father, George, in 1954; his mother, Emma, in 1992; his brother, Dana, in 1964; and his sister, Rowena Breau, in 1998. Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday until time of service at Daigle & Nadeau Funeral Home, Fort Kent. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 1 p.m. Saturday with full military honors at St. Louis Catholic Church, Fort Kent. Committal services will be held after at Holy Family Cemetery, Daigle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the American Legion Post No. 133, 411 West Main St., Fort Kent, ME 04743. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.