John Willard Chaffee Jr. 1925 – 2022 BRUNSWICK – John “Johnnie” Willard Chaffee Jr., 96, died on Oct. 21, 2022 at MidCoast Hospital in Brunswick. He was immensely proud of his family and was known for his sense of humor and storytelling. He taught his great-grandchildren that a good life is all about the little things. In the words of one of the great-grandchildren, “You taught us all more than you will ever know.” John was born on Dec. 16, 1925 in Calais to John and Bernice (McKnight) Chaffee. He had three brothers, Gerald, Bud, and Ralph, and twin sisters Jean Johnson and Joan Yates. During the Great Depression his family moved to Freeport and then Bath in 1939 in search of work. John was a proud graduate of the class of 1943 of Morse High School. After graduation, he went to work at Bath Iron Works as a Pipe Fitter but left there to serve in the U.S. Navy from 1944-1946 as a Motor Machinist Mate on board the LST 812 in the Pacific, seeing action in Saipan, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the Philippines. On July 12, 1947 he married Barbara Lothrop of Bath. They were married for 72 years until her death. John and Barbara had two children, John III and Gale. In 1956 they moved into their new home, built by John, in Arrowsic where John would live until his death. After a long and successful career, John retired from Bath Iron Works in 1987 as a Technical Writer. John always had a sideline job doing plumbing for friends, acquaintances, spending much time in Popham opening and closing cottages and developing so many friendships. If someone needed something he was the first to help them out. John was raised to a Master Mason in 1960. His journey in Freemasonry continued when he joined the Scottish Rite becoming a 32nd degree Mason. He became a Shriner when he joined the Kora Shrine in 1961. In 2010 John became a 50-year member of the Masonic Fraternity. He was a valued and accomplished member in his 62 years of service to the Craft. John was predeceased by his parents; siblings; and his son and namesake, John Chaffee III. His wife, Barbara, died in 2019. He will be greatly missed by his daughter, Gale (John Stoy), his daughter-in-law, Donna Chaffee; plus eight grandchildren and their families, Kerry Curtis (Tim); Tony Stoy and Josie and Hazel; Amy Prager (Roger Perry) and Veronica, Sam, and Sophia; and Krissy Nelson-Walling (Graham) and Madison, Kara, Grace, Elsie, Spencer, and Simon; Melissa (Will) Cox and sweet baby Jack (John) (named in honor of the three generations of John’s); Barbara (Shawn) McDermott; Tammy (Tom) Tecklenburg; and Heidi Chaffee. So many thanks to his care team Kathy Heuer, Kara Munsey, Amy Prager, Judy Preble and Elsie Nelson-Walling. They brought him joy and made it possible for him to stay in the home that he built which was his wish. A memorial service will be held on Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. at the Grace Episcopal Church, 1100 Washington St., Bath. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations in John’s memory to the Shriners Hospitals for Children 2900 Rocky Point Dr. Tampa, FL 33607 or online at https://www.shriners childrens.org/en

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