LIVERMORE FALLS – Rodney “Rod” Lee Vigue, 62, a former resident of Richmond, died peacefully as the sun rose surrounded by loved ones at his home in Livermore Falls, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.

Rod was born on July 18, 1960, to Richard and Marie Vigue. Rod was educated within the Augusta school system and graduated from Cony High school. He and his brothers were both known and remembered by many teachers for their mischievous ways. They were always looking to make people laugh, but Rod said it’s fun as long as nobody was getting hurt and he always adhered to that saying. He had an infectious laugh that could never be contained.

Rod started working with his father in the woods and he was hooked for the rest of his life. He went to work for Brewers Dairy in Augusta where he worked for many years while doing firewood on the side until he decided the woods were calling fulltime. Rod loved cutting “Big Pine”, doing firewood, and loved cutting fir trees, but he always hated the sappy mess they created. Those riding in a vehicle with Rod knew he was looking at the large pine trees along his route. Rod was known for his kindness in business and many times gave wood to those that he knew couldn’t afford it. He never wanted to see someone cold during the Maine winters.

Rod loved camping in Jackman during the summer, snowmobiling, riding the four-wheeler, and playing on his tractor. If he could be outside, he was happy. His favorite thing to do was fish for trout and we’ve all heard many fish stories and of secret spots he had found. If you asked Rod what his greatest accomplishment was, he would say it was raising his two children and being a grandfather. Family meant more to him than anything else. He raised his son Darike and daughter Ashley as a single parent during a time when being a single dad was unheard of in many ways. He taught both of them about life and how to be happy as well as how to work hard in order to play harder. He always strived to give them a better future, and when his granddaughter Raiden was born, she became the apple of his eye. There is nothing he wouldn’t do for his Raiden. Rod had many friends and never met a person he wouldn’t talk to. If someone needed help Rod was there and without question didn’t want money from anyone. He always said, “one hand washed the other” and there may be a day that you’ll need help, so it was important to help those around you.

Rod is survived by a son Darike Vigue of Livermore Falls and his husband Ryan, a daughter Ashley Smith of Augusta and her husband William; a granddaughter Raiden Burke of Augusta; a sister April Knox; and mother Marie Vigue of Chelsea; as well as countless nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his father Richard Vigue; two brothers Alfred “Fred” Vigue and eldest brother Richard “Rit” Vigue.

Rod’s visiting hours will be held on Monday, Nov. 7, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner, where a funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 8th, at 11 a.m. and burial will follow at the Forest Grove Cemetery in Augusta.

Arrangements are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner, Maine. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com

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