AUGUSTA – Fernand E. Michaud passed away of Covid-19 at the Maine Veterans Home on Nov. 13, 2021. He was born on April 8, 1926, the sixth of nine children, in Lac Baker, New Brunswick, Canada, the son of Eloi and Leonie (Nadeau) Michaud.

From his humble beginnings, Fern, along with his siblings, walked three miles a day to school. He was educated at a one-room schoolhouse at St. Thomas Aquinas School, surrounded by the picturesque village of Baker Lake. Playing baseball with his buddies at a makeshift field, he developed a lifelong love of baseball.

Fern worked on the family farm. At 10 years old, Fern harnessed the horses, raked hay with a horse drawn rake built on two wheels, cut grain and plowed the fields. At 16 years of age, Fern cut pulp along with his brother, Gus, at northern Maine lumber camps. They would cut until Christmas, go home for the holidays, then return to haul the pulp with horses and a bobsled.

During winter months, Fern would fashion his own downhill skis and blazed his own trails, often racing with his brothers and their friends.

At the age of 17, during the The Great Migration of French Canadians, Fern came to Maine and settled in Winslow.

Fern proudly served in the U.S. Navy for two years, honorably discharged as Seaman 1st Class. He was a member of the American Legion, a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of Club Calumet, and a lifelong communicant of St. John the Baptist Church in Winslow. He was a competitive bowler. Fern was adept at building things. He built one of his homes and could repair just about anything.

With French as his primary language, Fern was immediately drawn to a young woman who spoke fluent French. He met the love of his life, Leonette, at a church Bingo game. They married on May 15, 1948 at St. John the Baptist Church in Winslow. Fern worked at the former Waterville hardware store for 28 years. He later owned and operated Michaud’s Retirement Home, retiring in 2002.

Fern and Leonette raised four daughters, Sonia, Claudette, Patricia, and Terry. At the time of Leonette’s passing in 2019, they had been married for 71 years.

From his Canadian roots, Fern always maintained close ties with family and friends. Card games, laughter, traditional foods, storytelling and family folklore characterized many gatherings.

Fern was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Leonette (Mathieu); siblings Yvette (Michaud) Bouchard and Alphie, Laurent Michaud and Georgiana, Jeannette Michaud, Lucien Michaud and Gilberte, Augustin Michaud and Lucienne, Fernande (Michaud) Gagne and Fern, Laurence (Michaud) DuPerry and Normand, Soeur Jeannine Michaud. Also, his sister-in-law, Madeline (Mathieu) Shorty and Robert; brothers-in-law Roland Mathieu and Blanche, and Bernard Mathieu and Patricia.

Survivors include his four daughters, Sonia (Michaud) Butler and David of The Villages, Fla., Claudette (Michaud) Massey and partner Dana Mosher of Unity, Patricia (Michaud) Grenier and David of Winslow, Terry Michaud of Winslow; grandchildren David Butler and Amy of Danvers, Mass., Kelly Butler and Rebecca of Carlisle, Mass., Aimee Massey, Ph.D. of Corvalis, Ore., Christina Massey of Melrose, Mass., Katie Grenier of Fairfield, Alex Grenier, USCG, Boston; and three great-grandchildren, twins William and David Butler, and Jonah Stark. Fern is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 116 Silver St., Waterville. Following Mass, a Celebration of Life will take place at the parish hall. Interment at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers,

memorial donations may be made to the

Waterville Humane Society,

100 Webb Rd.,

Waterville, ME 04901 or to

Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area,

304 Main St.,

Waterville, ME 04901.

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