SEARSPORT – Richard A. “Dick” Nadeau, 79, died Jan. 18, 2007, sur-rounded by his loving family at Maine Medical Center, Portland. He was born Sept. 18, 1927, in Fort Kent, the son of Joseph H. and Amanda (Cyr) Nadeau. He attended Fort Kent public schools, graduated from Ricker Classical Institute, attended Ricker College, Houlton, for a year until he turned 18, at which point he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the South China Seas during World War II. On Oct. 1, 1949, he married the love of his life, Bonnie Jean Main of Iowa and together they enjoyed 57 blissful years. For 43 years, he managed water companies in Fort Kent, Pittsfield and Searsport, where he retired in 1992. He was the last living great-grandchild of Jose Nadeau, the original settler of Fort Kent and was proud of his French Acadian ancestry. For many years, he was very active with the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Knights of Columbus and the Lion’s Club. He enjoyed playing baseball, softball, card games, golf and was an avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan. He also worked part time as a fireman, police officer, deputy sheriff, rural mail carrier, taught himself to draft blueprints and after retiring, worked summers as an inspector on construction sites for an engineering firm. In the last ten years, our parents enjoyed winters at their home in St. Petersburg, Fla. Dad sincerely loved his Lord, family, country and friends. Richard was predeceased by his parents; sister, Edna (Nadeau) Carroll; brothers, Joseph, James, John and Romeo Nadeau; a son, Joel in 1961; and a granddaughter, Ginger in 1998. He is survived by his beloved wife; and four children, Donna Cyr and her husband, Donald, Eric and his partner, Donna Nielsen, Duane and his wife, Carrie Ann and Robert and his wife, Jill; eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Rita, Elizabeth and Dorothy; a brother-in-law, Frank Carroll; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. The Richard Nadeau clan will surely always miss our patriarch, but his wisdom and strength and many memories will live on within us. Saying goodbye to someone we love so much is almost unbearable, but we derive some degree of solace in knowing we will all be together again at the big family reunion and Dad is now at peace. A funeral will be held 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 29, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Belfast. A memorial service and Christian burial will be held in the spring at St. Louis Catholic Church and Cemetery, Fort Kent. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Senior Spectrum, care of Waldo Community Center, 18 Merriam Road, Belfast, ME 04915.
RICHARD ARTHUR NADEAU
