Obituary for Stephen Lester Bragdon
We are saddened to share the news that Stephen L. Bragdon passed away August 21, 2022 following a period of declining health during a recent battle with colon cancer.
Steve was born in Lewiston on December 4, 1957 to Charles E. Bragdon, Jr. and Pauline M. (Burns) Bragdon. He attended Kennebunk area schools graduating with honors from Kennebunk High School in the graduating Class of 1976 where he was a member of the school band as well as the wrestling and football teams. Steve received two Congressional appointments to attend The United States Military Academy at West Point where he graduated in 1980 with a degree in Civil Engineering.
Steve was a Captain in the United States Army after serving 10 years. He was subsequently employed as a Materials Engineer for Blue Rock Industries, a Construction Manager for Maurice Cohen and an independent painting contractor for many years. He was most recently employed by Home Depot before leaving due to illness.
Steve was a kind-hearted, easy going and charming soul. He enjoyed time spent with both family and friends as well as dogs and cats that he and Carole adopted and cared for. He enjoyed yardwork, visits to the casino and horse races, lighting off fireworks and most recently his model rocket project which he was greatly proud of and brought him much joy. He recently completed an hour of flight training at Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport and was looking forward to additional flights.
Steve loved the great outdoors. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and also enjoyed camping, snowmobiling and four-wheeling in his younger years. He enjoyed watching sports especially the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics. He was also fond of NASCAR racing with his favorite drivers being Kyle Larson and Jeff Gordon.
Steve is predeceased by his paternal great-grandparents Lester and Ruth McGaffey, paternal grandparents Charles (Sr.) and Myra Bragdon, maternal grandparents Clifton and Marie Burns, his sister Patricia M. Bragdon, his mother Pauline M. (Burns) Bragdon, his aunts Elisabeth Jackson and Ruth Bowie, uncle Kenneth ("Skip") Burns, uncle William ("Bill") Bragdon and several cousins.
He is survived by father Charles E. Bragdon, Jr., brother David C. Bragdon and wife Gayle Witham, daughter Amy Bragdon, son Eric Bragdon and wife Mia and their two daughters, niece Stephanie (Bragdon) Bartlett and her husband Joshua, great uncles Wallace Bragdon and Charles Fortier, aunt Aline (Brother) Bragdon, former spouse Sandra Harpell, several cousins and his significant other for more than thirty years, Carole M. (LaBranche) Bragdon.
Visitation will be held at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, Maine on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at 12:00 pm followed by a funeral service at 1:00 pm. A private graveside service with military honors for family will be held following the services.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, The Wounded Warrior Project, The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland or the West Kennebunk Animal Shelter.
Steve was born in Lewiston on December 4, 1957 to Charles E. Bragdon, Jr. and Pauline M. (Burns) Bragdon. He attended Kennebunk area schools graduating with honors from Kennebunk High School in the graduating Class of 1976 where he was a member of the school band as well as the wrestling and football teams. Steve received two Congressional appointments to attend The United States Military Academy at West Point where he graduated in 1980 with a degree in Civil Engineering.
Steve was a Captain in the United States Army after serving 10 years. He was subsequently employed as a Materials Engineer for Blue Rock Industries, a Construction Manager for Maurice Cohen and an independent painting contractor for many years. He was most recently employed by Home Depot before leaving due to illness.
Steve was a kind-hearted, easy going and charming soul. He enjoyed time spent with both family and friends as well as dogs and cats that he and Carole adopted and cared for. He enjoyed yardwork, visits to the casino and horse races, lighting off fireworks and most recently his model rocket project which he was greatly proud of and brought him much joy. He recently completed an hour of flight training at Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport and was looking forward to additional flights.
Steve loved the great outdoors. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and also enjoyed camping, snowmobiling and four-wheeling in his younger years. He enjoyed watching sports especially the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics. He was also fond of NASCAR racing with his favorite drivers being Kyle Larson and Jeff Gordon.
Steve is predeceased by his paternal great-grandparents Lester and Ruth McGaffey, paternal grandparents Charles (Sr.) and Myra Bragdon, maternal grandparents Clifton and Marie Burns, his sister Patricia M. Bragdon, his mother Pauline M. (Burns) Bragdon, his aunts Elisabeth Jackson and Ruth Bowie, uncle Kenneth ("Skip") Burns, uncle William ("Bill") Bragdon and several cousins.
He is survived by father Charles E. Bragdon, Jr., brother David C. Bragdon and wife Gayle Witham, daughter Amy Bragdon, son Eric Bragdon and wife Mia and their two daughters, niece Stephanie (Bragdon) Bartlett and her husband Joshua, great uncles Wallace Bragdon and Charles Fortier, aunt Aline (Brother) Bragdon, former spouse Sandra Harpell, several cousins and his significant other for more than thirty years, Carole M. (LaBranche) Bragdon.
Visitation will be held at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, Maine on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at 12:00 pm followed by a funeral service at 1:00 pm. A private graveside service with military honors for family will be held following the services.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, The Wounded Warrior Project, The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland or the West Kennebunk Animal Shelter.