Joseph Bourgoin

WATERVILLE – Joseph Bourgoin, 80, of Waterville, passed away peacefully on Nov. 25, 2025, at the Togus VA Medical Center with loved ones by his side.

Known fondly as “Cowboy” to those who grew up with him in Central Maine, Joe will be remembered for his big heart, booming laugh, and unwavering devotion to his family, especially his beloved wife of 26 years, Carol. Together, they shared countless adventures, traveling to Alaska, exploring national parks, and journeying through Europe. Everywhere they went, they made new friends, collected cherished memories, and returned home with stories Joe loved sharing with those he held dear.

Joe was born on Oct. 28, 1945, in Waterville, to Edmond and Albertine (Berube) Bourgoin. He graduated from Waterville High in 1964 and soon after joined the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, serving in Alaska. After returning home, Joseph worked at Chinet before heading west to California with a friend. There, he worked at Northrup Grumman as a fabricator on the B-2 bomber, forming friendships he maintained for years to come. After a decade in California – and a large earthquake – Cowboy returned home to Central Maine, where he enjoyed spending time with his sons and their families. In 1996, Carol (Fall) finally got him to notice her, and they were married in 1999. Joe later worked for various roofing companies and eventually retired as a maintenance worker at KVCC.

Joseph loved staying active and had a knack for turning hobbies into full-blown passions. He worked out consistently at local gyms and played golf with his sons, family, friends, and grandson. The Golf Channel was a permanent fixture on TV. During his California years, he was an avid cyclist, a love he continued after returning to Maine. Later in life, he took great pride in nurturing his vegetable gardens, especially his tomatoes and jalapeños. The local groundhogs were his sworn rivals, and though they sometimes claimed victory, he never stopped fighting the good fight. When he wasn’t outside or on the move, Joe was a voracious reader who remembered details from every book and happily recounted them long after he turned the last page. But above all else, Joe cherished time with family. A lively sports match, a shared meal, and the sound of joy and laughter were his idea of a perfect day.

Joe was predeceased by his parents and brother Gene and his wife Nancy, brother Raymond, brother Edwin and wife Sandra, sister Delores Gould and husband Bert, sister Jackie Tardiff and husband Jimmy, brother Ronald, sister Charlene Poulin, brother David (Beau), and sister-in-law Libby Bourgoin.

Joseph is survived by his wife Carol; his sons Eric (Laurie) Bourgoin and Jimmy (MaryBeth) Bourgoin, his stepdaughters Laura Leslie (Stephan Gafford) and Allison Barry (Kris). He is also survived by his siblings, Pat Gurney (Eddie) and Donald Bourgoin, as well as his sisters-in-law, Carlene Bourgoin, Rachel Bourgoin, and Denise Bourgoin, and his brother-in-law, Francis Poulin. Joe also leaves behind grandchildren, Conner Bourgoin, JoAnn Bourgoin, Lindsey Dale (Jonathan), Morgan Bourgoin (Jessica), Acadia Gafford, August Gafford, Arden Gafford, Ashton Gafford and a special foster baby. Joe was blessed with two great-grandsons, Wyatt and Warren Dale.

A funeral service will be held on Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. at Veilleux Redington Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, located at 8 Elm Street, Waterville, Maine. Please join us for a light lunch and visiting afterward. There will be an interment at the Veterans Cemetery in Augusta in the spring.

Carol would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the exceptional caregivers at the VA hospital and Hospice Unit; to all of Joe and Carol’s family who came to visit and sit at the hospital; and a special thanks to Laura Leslie for spending nights at the hospital to make sure Joe was comfortable.

Services are under the care of Veilleux-Redington-Lawry Brothers, 8 Elm Street, Waterville. An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at http://www.vrlfuneralhome.com

Donations in Joseph’s memory may be made to:

Waterville Area Soup Kitchen (WASK)

PO Box 1494

Waterville, ME 04903