BANGOR – My wonderful Dad died so peacefully. God is good to wrap His arms around Dad in such a loving way. Thomas L. McInnis died peacefully, July 1, 2013, after a short illness. Tom was born Jan. 4, 1923, in Old Town, to the late Wilbert J McInnis and Esther (Taylor) McInnis of Old Town.
He attended Old Town High School and graduated in 1941. He volunteered to join the U.S. Army in 1942 along with many of his classmates. Tom was in the Infantry but in order to earn extra pay decided to join the Gliders, serving in the 182nd Airborne Division. Tom earned the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon, American Campaign Ribbon, and Victory ribbon for his service. Returning from Europe with thousands of other servicemen he participated in the Victory Parade in New York City before returning home. Tom married Isabelle Ouellette of Old Town Feb. 25, 1945, in Old Town, and later moved to Bangor. Tom took a job with Nissen Baking Corp, South Brewer, as a salesman, serving the Old Town markets. He managed to work his way into management, first as a route supervisor and later becoming division manager for the northern region. Tom’s primary focus in life was raising his four children and caring for his loving wife. After retirement Tom enjoyed traveling, taking numerous bus tours with Cyr Bus Lines making many new friends in the process. Tom and Isabelle also had a special hideaway in New Hampshire that they visited for many years. Tom was certainly not a shy person and you generally knew his position on most subjects. He was a man of honor, trustworthy and always a man of his word. He loved his country, was a true Patriot and never forgot to raise his flag daily. He would never let rain or snow touch his flag and took it down each evening. Tom will be missed by us all, those family times when he conducted his council of wars and especially those many Sunday afternoon picnics.
Tom leaves behind Isabelle, his loving wife of 67 years; four children, Donna (McInnis) Giles and Richard Blaine Giles, Michael McInnis and Sandra (Davis) McInnis, Janice (McInnis) Grenier and Willie Grenier, and Judy (McInnis) Fessenden and Richard Fessenden; eight loving grandchildren; and 20 loving great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Friday, July 5, at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John’s Catholic Church, York Street, Bangor, where Tom was a faithful member. Memorial donations may be made in Tom’s name to either American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, OK 73123; or National MS Society, Greater New England Chapter, P.O. Box 845945, Boston, MA, 02284. Arrangements entrusted to Greenlawn Memorial Funeral Home, Bangor.
Thomas L. McInnis
