TRENTON – Lt. Cmdr. Alfred J. Ketchen Sr., retired, 83, husband of the late Joan P. Bouchard, died Sept. 30, 2011, at a Blue Hill hospital. He was born Sept. 18, 1928, in Old Town, the son of Carl David and Irene Grace (McIninch) Ketchen.
After Alfred graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1951, he married the love of his life Joan P. (Bouchard). He then joined the Great Lakes District Merchant Marines, Sturgeon Bay, Wis. Then in 1953 he became an officer in the U.S. Navy, had a successful career, earning several medals including the Bronze Star, and retired in 1974. After retiring from the U.S. Navy he moved back to Maine, fulfilling their dream of building a house on the ocean. He completed his working career as a boiler and elevator inspector for the state of Maine. He was a member of Knights of Columbus, 40 and 8, and Ellsworth Rotary Club.
He is survived by his four children, Joyce Ketchen of Charlotte, N.C., Nancy Klemmer and her husband, Gary, of Lakeport, Mich., Pam Alley and her husband, Robert, of Trenton and Al Ketchen and wife, Julie, of Poland Spring; 10 grandchildren, Glenn and Cheryl Coe, Jason and Leigh Klemmer, Sara, Carl and Carla Alley, Cameron, Abbie and AJ Ketchen; and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, David and his wife, Denise, of Winthrop and Donald and his wife, Lise, of Old Town; several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Bragdon-Kelley Funeral Home, 215 Main St., Ellsworth. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Ellsworth. Interment will be at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Augusta. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be sent to Maine Maritime Academy Boat Donation Program, Development Office, Pleasant Street, Castine, ME 04420. A service of Bragdon-Kelley Funeral Home, Ellsworth.