PORTAGE LAKE – John Wendell Gagnon, 66, beloved husband, dad, “Gramps,” brother, uncle, cousin and friend, passed away Thursday, April 11, 2013, at Aroostook Medical Center, Presque Isle. He was born Aug. 4, 1946, in Masardis, one of 11 children to Albert Joseph “Gib” Gagnon and Edwina (Dubois) Gagnon.
John graduated from Ashland Community High School in 1966 and entered the U.S. Army shortly after. He served three tours in Vietnam, returning stateside in 1969. He met his wife Marcelle (Smith) in Connecticut, where they were married in May of 1970. John moved back to Portage Lake in 1974 with pregnant wife in tow, where he took a job with Pete Sawyer as a scaler. He then went to work for Pinkham Lumber Mill, Nashville Plantation, where he worked for 24 years as a saw filer before going to work for Maine Woods Company, LLC, Portage Lake, in 1999. John was also a member of Portage Lake Volunteer Fire Department in the 1980s. John volunteered his time and skills to many organizations throughout the years, most recently for Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Portage Lake, where he served on the buildings and grounds committee, on the church council and as a Knights of Columbus. John also belonged to American Legion Post No. 176, Eagle Lake, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 9699, Ashland and Wesget Sipu Native American Tribe. John was well liked by all who knew him. He would give of himself to anyone in need without a thought of getting anything back in return. He loved to have a good time and lots of laughs and would never turn down the chance to have all of his relatives and friends together for any reason. He was a prankster and was always on the look out for a good joke. He was an avid fisherman and liked nothing better than walking the brooks in the north Maine woods or camping at Fish Lake. He also liked to help anyone around the woods, especially during the annual moose hunt.
He is survived by wife, Marcelle (Smith) Gagnon, of Portage Lake; and their three children, Maurice A. Gagnon of New York City, Corrine M. (Gagnon) Routhier and husband, Arthur, of Portage Lake and Matthew A. Gagnon of North Waterboro; he also leaves behind five very special grandchildren who adored him and loved him for just being “Gramps”, Jack, Alden and Grace Routhier and Aidan and Ashtyn Gagnon; he is also survived by 10 siblings and their spouses, Darey Gagnon and Mary Ann, Douglass Gagnon and wife, Katherine, Rose Lorrey and Edward, Wayne Gagnon and Carol, Sandra Soucy and Darrell, Tony Gagnon and Gail, all of Portage Lake, Barbara Daniels and Greg of Presque Isle, Peggy Gagnon and Wendy Harvey of Portland, Beverly Miller and Louie of Berlin, Conn., and Gilbert Gagnon and Angela of Bellstone Spa, N.Y.; he was also a beloved brother-in-law to, Jean-Claude Smith of Quebec, Canada, Therese Chadwick of Connecticut, Monique Bower of Washington and Michael, Andre, Donald and Jerry Smith, all of California; John also had many special nieces and nephews; and extra special great-nieces and great-nephews.
Relatives and friends may call 6-8 p.m. Sunday and 9-10:30 a.m. Monday, at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Portage Lake. A funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Monday at the church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of John to North Maine Woods, P.O. Box 425, Ashland, ME, 04732. Funeral arrangements are a service of Stimson-Ouellette Funeral Home, 114 Exchange St., Ashland. To leave online condolences, please visit www.ouellettefuneralhome.com.
JOHN W. GAGNON
