BANGOR — When a game warden rolled over his snowmobile on a Piscataquis County lake in January, pilot Joshua Tibbetts answered the call.

Tibbetts, who was in the area working, quickly searched for the warden, who was struggling against the cold. Upon finding him, Tibbetts made sure he was safe and helped warm him inside his plane.

But he didn’t stop there, Col. Doug Scott said Thursday. After the rescue, Tibbetts made himself available to the warden for whatever he needed and checked in while he was recovering at the hospital.

“He enjoyed people,” said Scott. “He embodied our core values as game wardens, especially compassion.”

Scott was speaking at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, where hundreds gathered to celebrate and honor Tibbetts, an 18-year veteran of the Maine Warden Service who died May 12 when his plane crashed in the Franklin County town of Avon while he was on a routine mission to stock fish in waterways.

Tibbetts was promoted to a pilot in 2023 and was stationed out of Eagle Lake, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Fifty years old, he was the 16th game warden and fourth pilot to die in the line of duty in the agency’s 146-year history.

“We promise Josh will never be forgotten, and he’ll forever be part of our family,” said Scott, holding back tears. “Josh, thank you for the ultimate sacrifice and going out of your way to help others. May you rest in peace.”

Tibbetts, Scott said, knew he wanted to be a game warden from an early age, following in the footsteps of his father, Doug Tibbetts, who was a warden for 40 years. When he joined the service, it was, Scott said, a “full-circle moment.”

If he wasn’t at his job, Tibbetts was spending time with his family.

Kim Robash had been with Tibbetts for five years before he died. He would message her throughout the day, and send her breathtaking photos from his plane.

When he was not stationed out of Eagle Lake, he would be at his home in New Gloucester. He and Robash would spend the evening chatting over dinner outside on their patio, then go watch their nightly reality television shows together before bed.

Robash said she cherished those moments, and thanked him for being the best father figure for their kids.

“You are one of the most thoughtful human beings I’ve ever known,” she said. “Thank you for being you.”

Tibbetts was adventurous, Robash said. He took her and their three kids all across Maine to tour as many Marden’s stores as possible as part of the company’s Bargain Tour. Every time they went into a different store, Tibbets made sure he got his passport stamped and a family picture taken.

For their troubles, they got a $20 gift card, but Robash said the memories they made outweighed its value.

“Your laugh will always come in my dreams,” she said. “I’ll always remember your perfect smile, the one that made me feel like I was safe. I will always love you, Joshy.”

Tibbetts’ daughter Allison also spoke about his focus on family. She reminisced about them going camping, when he taught her how to fish and operate the family boat.

She said she didn’t think much of it then, but will forever remember those memories.

“My dad taught me so many things without trying,” Allison Tibbetts said. “I hope he knows how proud I am of him. I miss him already and I hope he knows I will always be thinking about him. Thank you for everything you gave us, I will keep that forever.”