BRUNSWICK — Wilfred Victor Lajoie, 98, of Highland Road, died at his home on January 26, 2017, with his niece Kathy Murphy and great nephew Shawn Murphy by his side.

He was born in Van Buren, on Cyr Plantation, Maine, on July 12, 1918, the son of the late Joseph C. and Emily (Deveau) Lajoie and attended local schools.

During World War II, Wilfred served honorably in the U.S. Army in March of 1941. He received the Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon, Distinguished Unit Badge, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 1 Bronze Star.

T/Sergeant Platoon Leader was in charge of enlisted personnel engaged in operation of 6 105 MM Howitzers, responsible for the control coordination and tactical emplacement of the artillery pieces and the crew members, ascertained that guns were properly serviced and maintained, occasionally acted as forward observer in assisting in proper laying of the guns, served overseas in Pacific Theater of Operations for 39 months participating in action on New Guinea, Biak and the Philippine Islands. He was discharged on September 1945.

He moved to Brunswick, Maine in 1946, married and started the poultry business. In 1972, he developed Ward Town Trailer Park in Freeport.

He was devoted to helping others and very involved with Red Cross, Salvation Army, Parkinson’s disease and Cystic Fibrosis and many other local organizations.

Wilfred was also a wonderful friend and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

We are all going to miss all his stories about the War and about growing up. He was one that made you laugh, good times and bad. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobile, boating, gardening and enjoyed traveling. He was still mowing his lawn last summer, which he enjoyed.

Mr. Lajoie was predeceased by his first wife Jeanette V. (Ross) Lajoie in July of 1991, second wife Loretta (Preo) Lajoie in December of 2013, and by his parents, brothers Rene and Claude. Also sisters,

Marie Elliott, Alvine Wheeler, Lorraine Spaulding, Martha White, Lena Turmelle, and Marcella Jean, stepchildren: Marilyn Elizabeth (Burns) Alden and her husband John Harvey Alden and Dr. John F. Burns.

Mr. Lajoie is survived by Step grand children: Susan L (Alden) Houser, MD and her husband, Dr. Robert A Houser, MD of Valrico, Fla., John D Alden and his wife, Rhonda, of Las Cruces, NM., Jane Burns and her husband Robert of Gansevoort, NY, Shawn Burns and his wife Denise of NH, Michael Burns and his wife Kristi of Spokane, WA and Ian Burns of Spokane, WA and his mother Sara of Scottsdale, AZ. Also Step Children: Alfred Preo and his wife, Rachael of Winslow, Charlene Breton and her husband Ronald, of Winslow, and Frank Preo and his wife Jackie of Fairfield. Several step-grand-children, step-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors and a special neighbor Bill, and a very special sister in-law Glenice Lajoie.

He was a special loving brother in many ways to his brother Russell C. Lajoie and his wife Beverly of San Marcos, CA and to his sisters Gloria Dumont of Clinton, and Julie Tardiff of Oxnard, CA. He did a lot of traveling to visit family.

The family would like extend special thanks to Charlene and Ron for their many visits, with laughter, so much enjoyed by Will.

At his request there will be no public visiting hours or Mass.

Following cremation, a burial service will be at the Old Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Civic Center Drive, Augusta on Tuesday, June 20th at 10 AM.

The family would like to thank the staff at Togus Home Care and Hospice for the excellent care that they provided to Will.

Memorial donations may be made to: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Northern New England Chapter, 114 Perimeter Road, Unit G & H, Nashua, NH 03063, in his great nephew’s honor (Shawn Murphy).

Arrangements are by Stetson’s Funeral Home, 12 Federal Street, Brunswick, Maine 04011, where memorial condolences may be expressed at stetsonsfuneralhome.com.