Obituary of Alcide J. Daigle
Greenville- Alcide “Al” J. Daigle, 85, passed away March 11, 2017, in Greenville. Born in Stockholm, Maine, on January 5, 1932, Al was the son of an illegal Canadian immigrant and a mother from St. Agatha, Maine. His family would move around as farm workers and in 1941 move to Piscataquis County area before settling in Greenville where his father had gotten a job at Atlas Plywood.
By 1952 Al was working at the plywood mill when he was drafted into the US Army and found himself on a free trip to Korea with the 48th Battalion of the 7th Infantry. He spent nearly two years loading shells into a 105 Howitzer, among numerous other duties on the frontline, witnessing unspeakable horrors that would haunt him the rest of his days.
After returning to the States, he spent some time living in Connecticut working at Pratt & Whitney alongside a few of his Greenville buddies. In 1958 he would get the news of his fathers tragic death at Atlas Plywood and returned to Greenville to take care of his mother and would eventually run his own taxi service, meet the love his life, Brenda Jane Macomber, start his own saw sharpening business, and in his spare time enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing, and by the mid 1960’s would be driving school bus and raising his two sons.
He took advantage of the short Maine summers by spending as much time as possible with his wife and boys traveling and camping, teaching them to hunt and fish like his father had taught him, warning and reminding them constantly how fast the years would go by. The enormous heart and gregarious outgoing nature of Al's wife kept his home a constant buzz of activity through the 1970's and early 80's—smoke filled, card playing nights echoed with the laughter of friends and family.
His house became a common coffee stop for many, and was also open to band rehearsals as well as long term house guests comprised of their son's school mates who might be in need of a safe harbor. Though much of Brenda's generosity most likely served as an inconvenience and an added expense to Al, who had been forced out of work from a heart condition and severe back problems, he would remain in awe of her selflessness and revel in her capacity to care for those in need. She was his heart when his own was ailing, his back when his was weak, and she could make him laugh when nothing in his world seemed funny.
She would be taken from him all too soon in 1987, and though nothing could replace her, and his heart would never heal, he was able to carry on thanks to the love of his family, and friends. He would face much of his bereavement with one son in the Navy, and the other in college; the house was suddenly quiet, and the days long. Al would busy himself in his woodworking shop, maybe reverse engineering a Canadian rocker, or later, making clocks with intricate scroll work. He enjoyed summer adventures and naps with his old pal Bucky Mcfadden but, It would be the unlikely friendship with one time pesky neighborhood kid, turned best buddy, Tim Gravelle, whose regular visits would revive him. Tim would have Al smiling again during his darkest times and it was a friendship that he cherished.
Also sharing a close bond were Al and his sisters, who's majority would collectively feel the need to be closer as they entered their eighties, and were extremely lucky to do so. Few could witness a more joyful sight than seeing him playing the Acadian music of their roots on accordion, while his sisters sang and danced along.
His sons moved back to be close to him as his health diminished, caring for him until his needs were beyond their abilities. Many knew Al as "Gubba"—a name given to him by his granddaughters, Sydney and Danielle, and an endearing nickname that his closest friends and family used for over twenty years. He was a sweet man and loving father, grandfather and great grandfather and will be missed so very much.
Al was preceded in death by father, Albert, and mother, Genevieve “Jane” Marie Lagasse, his beloved wife, Brenda Jane Macomber, sisters, Irene Warmen and Marie Edwina, brothers, Alexander and Richard. He is survived by his sons, Danny Daigle of Greenville and Richard and his wife Rachel Daigle, of Greenville, his sisters, Corrine Comeau of Greenville, Mary Cecile Petrosky and Pauline Covington of Reno, Nevada. Granddaughters, Danielle Daigle of Herman, Maine, and Sydney Daigle of Madbury, New Hampshire, and Great-grandson, Avery Page of Hermon, Maine.
A graveside memorial service with military honors will be held 11am Saturday, May 27, 2017, at the Greenville Cemetery. A celebration of Alcide's life will follow at 12pm at the American Legion Post 94. Arrangements are in the care of the Lary Funeral Home. Messages of condolence may be expressed at www.laryfuneralhome.com.
