BANGOR – Norman E. Bateman, 89, passed away peacefully May 12, 2011, at a Bangor health care facility after long illness. Norman was born Dec. 28, 1921, in Veazie, son of the late Elmer and Agnes Bateman.
He attended Bangor schools. In 1942 he answered the call to arms and joined the U.S. Army. He served in the European Theater as a member the 13th Airborne Division, and the 88th and 326th Glider Infantry Regiments arriving in France in February 1945. After the war he continued his military service with a three-year tour in the Naval Reserve. Norman worked for years at Mack’s Bakery and Grant’s Dairy before joining the U.S. Postal Service, where he retired from in 1987. For hobbies he enjoyed golfing, was an avid reader, but his passion was model railroading. He built a huge track layout in his basement and enjoyed taking many railroad excursions with his fellow rail-fans.
He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Frances V. (Gonyar) Bateman; and his sister, Thelma Pelletier. Norman is survived by four children: son, Norman and his wife, Cindy, of Cape Coral, Fla., daughter, Jaciel Willey and her husband, Lloyd, of Hampden, son, Steven of Woburn, Mass., and son, Wayne and his wife, Mary, of Wells; eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 17, at Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery, Ohio Street, Bangor, with the Rev. David Nicol officiating. Relatives and friends are invited to meet 10:45 a.m. at the cemetery office. Arrangements by Memorial Alternatives, 205 Center St., Bangor.