He was born in Bath on Feb. 26, 1930, a son of Napoleon Henry and Evelyn Mae (Cothran) Gagne.
He attended Bath schools before entering the United States Navy. On his return from Pacific duty, he was employed at Bath Iron Works as an inside machinist, leadingman and apprenticeship instructor, retiring after 39 years. On Nov. 27, 1952, he married Mary Jannette MacDonald.
He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bath, lifetime member of the Bath Lodge of Elks, Troop Leader Boy Scouts of America, Knights of Columbus, and the Bath Country Club. He was a person universally interested: cooking, theater, history, music, dance, hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing, recreational boatbuilding, BIW bowling leagues and sports events with his family. He was a Boy Scout leader in Bath and coached basketball in his spare time for St. Mary’s Parochial School and the Bath School System. He was an avid supporter of Morse High athletics and never missed his grandchildren’s sporting events. He was a man dedicated to his faith, his family and his community.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Jannette Gagne of Bath, two sons, Gerald H. (Jerry) Gagne Jr. of Bath and David A. Gagne and his wife Doris of Bath, two daughters, Jane E. Gagne of Bath and Corrinne A. Fitzgerald of Bath, one brother, Leonce Gagne and his wife Mary of Topsham, two sisters, Arlene Munsey and her husband Elliott of Bath and Eleanor Irish and her husband Donald of Florida, eight grandchildren, Marc P. Gagne, Christopher M. Gagne, Linzi J. Fitzgerald, Cory L. Fitzgerald, Michael A. Gagne, Brianna L. Koehling, Amanda M. Gagne and Macie L. Gagne, four great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and longtime friends, Lloyd Durrell and Ronald “Spanky” McElman.
He was predeceased by two daughters, Melissa Louise Koehling on Jan. 5, 2005, and Deborah Anne Gagne on July 29, 2009, three brothers, Frederick Gagne, Richard Gagne and Napoleon Gagne Jr. and one sister, Florence Whalen.
Visiting hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, at Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High St., Bath. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 144 Lincoln St., Bath. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fields for our Future, c/o Kay Beveridge, 146 Spinney Mill Road, Arrowsic 04530 or a charity of one’s choice. Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in the spring.
Condolences may be made online at www.Daiglefuneralhome.com.
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