Arthur Tanguay

Arthur A. Tanguay, 99, of Gorham, NH passed from this life on the evening of February 24, 2019 at the Coos County Nursing Home in Berlin, NH to join his wife, Arlene, in their heavenly home for eternity. Arthur, one of nine children of Arthur and Marie (Pelchat) Tanguay, was born at home on December 15, 1919 on Bangor Street in Gorham, NH. He lived there until he was six. The family then purchased a small farm on Madison Avenue in Gorham and lived there for many years. Arthur lived his entire life in Gorham except for his service in the Civilian Conservation Corps and U.S. Army. As a teenager, Arthur joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and worked in Pittsburg, NH before going with the CCC to Glenwood Springs, Colorado to work on road and rail construction. He returned to Pittsburg, NH in 1939 to cut trees and help clean up from the 1938 hurricane. In 1940 he worked on cutting trails in Magalloway and helped string phone lines to Lake Francis. Arthur enlisted in the Army in February of 1941. He trained in Carolina and Fort Devens, MA. As a medic and ambulance driver for the 402nd Medical Collecting Company, 161st Medical Battalion, Arthur spent three months in England and then took part in the Invasion of Africa. From Africa he landed in Salerno Beach head in Italy. He remembers many men were lost in Cassino, Italy. Next was Anzio Beach, then to the Po Valley and the end of the War. Arthur had two brothers, Alphee and Dick, in the Pacific; one brother, Wilfred, in Europe; and one brother, Maurice, in service stateside. His youngest brother, Louie, served in Vietnam and retired after 20 years of service in the Navy and U.S. Air Force. Arthur and his youngest brother, Louie, met Arlene and Carolyn Brown (sisters) at Songo Lake Pavilion, owned by the sisters grandfather Abner Kimball in Albany Township, ME; and brothers married sisters, and a very close-knit and supportive family was formed. When Arthur returned from World War II, he worked in the summer at Gorham Golf Course (which was then owned by Brown Co.) and in the winter he worked for Brown Co. His starting wage was $1.37 an hour. He eventually worked full-time at the mill on #1 Paper Machine as a Machine Tender. In 1985 he retired after working 34 years for Brown Co. In the past, Arthur had served as Commander of the Dupont-Holmes Post No. 82 American Legion. He also worked part-time as a Gorham Police Officer for fifteen years. The first fire Arthur ever went to, he was not even a firefighter, but heard there was a fire in Cascade on the radio. It was his day off and he decided to go. He walked to the end of the street and tried to find a ride to the site. Unsuccessful, he walked to the fire station where he found a firefighter who could not drive the fire truck. With four years of experience driving all types of large trucks in the service, he drove the fire truck to Cascade. Later, when the Fire Chief asked Arthur if he had driven the fire truck to the scene, he admitted he did. Then the Chief told him to drive it back to the fire station and asked him if he would like to join the Department. He agreed and served on the Gorham Fire Department for over 65 years as a dedicated member. Arthur also served as the Gorham Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief. For over fifteen years, Arthur prepared the mortars and set the fireworks off for Gorhams Annual Fourth of July Celebration. He was honored as Grand Marshall of the 1988 Gorham Fourth of July Celebration. Arthur had been a Deacon for the Riverside Assembly of God Church in Gorham, NH and a faithful member for many years. Family includes three children: Donna and husband Robert Folsom of Albany Twp, ME, Debby Martin of Berlin, NH and Mims, FL, and Donald Tanguay and wife Janet of Albany Twp, ME; 6 grandchildren: Cody Martin and wife Alyssa, Tia (Martin) Labonville and husband Alex, Craig Martin, Jediah, Ben and Hayley Tanguay; 12 great-grandchildren: Olivia and Emma Martin, Amber Wilson, Aiden and Abel Martin, Camden, Levi, Oliver, Charles, Kezia, Liliana and Oceana Tanguay. He also leaves three sisters: Dorothy Ferrante of Gorham, NH, Irene Tieva of Tucson, AZ, and Bea Wheeler of Berlin, NH; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife, (Celia) Arlene Brown Tanguay on September 30, 2018 after more than 70 years of marriage; his five brothers: Richard, Alphee, Wilfred, Maurice, and Louis Tanguay; son-in-law Joseph (Joey) Martin, sister-in-law Carolyn Tanguay, and niece Lisa Tanguay. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 8, 2019 at 1 PM at Riverside Assembly of God Church, 450 Berlin-Gorham Road, Gorham, NH. Relatives and friends may call at Bryant Funeral Home, 1 Promenade Street, Gorham, NH on Thursday, March 7, 2019 from 7 PM to 9 PM. In the spring, interment will be at the Songo Pond Cemetery in Albany Township, ME. In lieu of flowers, anyone who wishes may make a donation in his memory to The Gorham Firefighters Association, 347 Main Street, Gorham, NH 03581. Online condolences may be left at www.bryantfuneralhome.net