Charles DeGroot

WEST PARIS — Charles Henry DeGroot, 85, of Oquossoc, died on Monday, April 7, 2014, at Ledgeview Living Center in West Paris.

He was the only child born to the late Charles and Susan (Murray) DeGroot on Dec. 21, 1928, in Summit, N.J. He was a 1946 graduate of Summit High School. He met Noreen Smith while they were working together in a grocery store. They married on Aug. 15, 1953, and were lucky enough to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary last year.

They settled in Summit and raised five children there. He served in the New Jersey Army Reserves in the 1950s. He was proud to have been a firefighter for 26 years with the Summit Fire Department before retiring in 1979 and moving to Topsham. There, he opened Red Schoolhouse Antiques where he restored many beautiful pieces of furniture before closing the shop in 2000. In 2002, he and Noreen moved full time to their camp on Rangeley Lake that they built in the 1960s.

The camp in Rangeley was his favorite place on earth. His family shared his love of the camp and have many happy memories of boating and fishing in the summer, snowmobiling in the winter and many competitive games of International Rummy. He was an unwavering fan of the Green Bay Packers and spent many hours yelling at the television while watching them. He could also tell you the year and model of any antique car. While he was still a firefighter, he helped restore the department’s 1927 antique fire truck and he drove it in parades all over New Jersey. He could repair almost anything that was broken and build anything that he needed. He always owned a dog and, in later years, discovered he loved cats too. He was a member of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Oquossoc.

He is survived by his loving wife, Noreen; sons Robert DeGroot of Eagle River, Alaska, Richard DeGroot of Coatesville, Pa. and Joshua DeGroot of Wiscasset; daughters Patricia Shaw of Naples and Katrina DeGroot of Portland; nine grandchildren and one great-grandson.

A memorial service will be held at a later date and interment will be at St. Teresa’s Cemetery in Summit, N.J. Please visit www.advantageportland.com to sign Charles’ guestbook and to leave condolences for the family.