OMER A. THIBODEAU

FORT KENT – Omer A. Thibodeau, 90, died Feb. 24, 2006 at a Fort Kent hospital. He was the beloved husband of Loretta (Pelletier) Thibodeau. Omer was born Dec. 28, 1915, in Fort Kent, the son of Mary Alice (‘Mamie Nadeau”) and Paul D. Thibodeau. He was educated in Fort Kent schools, Assumption Preparatory School, Worcester, Mass. and Ricker College in Houlton. On June 3, 1941, he married Loretta Pelletier at St Louis Church, Fort Kent. Fascinated by the evolution of radio and television, he became a ham radio operator as a teenager and then attended the Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, Ill. Upon the death of his father, the founder of Thibodeau’s Insurance Agency, he was invited by his older brother, Romeo, to join the family business. He agreed to this with the idea that it would be a temporary stint with plans to return to the electronics field. However, the untimely death of his brother in 1946, catapulted him into the leadership of the company. He remained president of the agency until his retirement in 1980. He repeatedly developed into one of the more prominent insurance agents in the state, widely respected for the expertise he gained in the oversight and expansion of the business, which thrives today. He was a true gentleman, patient, considerate and respectful – a role model to many. He had a great sense of humor and a wide range of interests, excelling at most. These included hunting, fishing, skiing, golf, piloting aircraft, bridge and woodworking. He was self-taught in fine cabinetmaking, building furniture since his childhood. With the help of his wife, he built the family camp at Cross Lake with the lumber from the trees they cut down on the lot. He was loved by his grandchildren and enjoyed following their accomplishments. Omer was a director of the Maine Mutual Fire Insurance Company for 50 years, serving terms as president and chairman. He was a director of the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Maine, and past president of the Aroostook County Insurance Agents Association. He served as Scoutmaster of the Fort Kent Boy Scouts, Troop 189. He was a member and chairman of the Fort Kent (SAD 27) school board as well as a member of the board of trustees of Northern Maine Medical Center including a term as chairman. He was a founding director of the Fort Kent Federal Credit Union and elected its first president. He also served as director and president of Lonesome Pine Ski Trails and was also a founding member and director of the Fort Kent Golf Club. He served as president of the Fort Kent Cross-Country Ski Club and was a member and former president of the Fort Kent Chamber of Commerce. Additionally he was a member of the Fort Kent Rotary Club, (1938-2006), served as its president and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Medal, Rotary Foundation International. He was an advisor at the Aroostook Trust Company, a director of the Fort Kent Historical Society and member of the Fort Kent Bridge Club. He was a Life Member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Council 0352 of Fort Kent and an Eucharistic minister, altar server, lecturer at St. Louis Parish. He was recognized as Fort Kent’s Citizen of the Year in 1971 and received the Diocesan Immaculate Conception Medallion form the Bishop of Portland for his contributions to his parish and community in 2003. All of these accomplishments would not have been possible without the faithful support of his loving wife of 65 years, Loretta. In addition to his wife of Fort Kent, he is survived by a son, Dr. Omer Thibodeau and his wife, Maxine, of Kennebunkport; a daughter, Anita Hedstrom and her husband, Gary, of Farmington; and son, Jim Thibodeau and his wife, Nancy, of Fort Kent; a brother, Wilfred of South Portland; sister, Gertrude Marquis of Fort Kent; sister-in-law, Angie Thibodeau of Hartford, Conn.; and sister-in-law, Gertrude Hallee of Fort Kent; as well as several nieces and nephews, 10 grandchildren, Alec Thibodeau of Providence, R.I., Mamie Thibodeau of Kennebunkport, Joel Thibodeau of Brooklyn, N.Y., Sara Thibodeau of Washington, D.C., Evangeline Thibodeau of Boston, Mass., Rayan Hedstrom of Old Orchard Beach, Heidi Hedstrom of Waterville, Monica Hedstrom of Farmington, Renee Thibodeau and Paul Thibodeau of Fort Kent. He was predeceased by his parents of Fort Kent, a beloved son, Paul R.; four brothers, Romeo, Ludger, (Fr. Normand) Claude and Philip; and two sisters, Juliette (Sr. Paulina), Bernice Collin. Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26 and 8:30 a.m. Monday, until time of service at the Daigle & Nadeau Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial with full 4th degree K. O. C. honors will be celebrated 11 a.m. Monday, at the St Louis Catholic Church, Fort Kent. Spring burial will be held May 11, in the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may donate to Fort Kent Historical Society, 11 West Main St., Apt 202, Fort Kent, ME 04743 or Northern Maine Medical Cardiac Fund, 194 East Main St., Fort Kent, ME 04743. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.