Born: December 14, 1931- Died: October 29, 2021
Preceded in death by his parents, Beatrice Helen LeVasseur Gagnon and Leo James Gagnon of Van Buren, Maine; and his younger brother, Jimmy (drowned at age 11).
Survived by wife of 67 years, Pearl Roberta Gagnon; brother, Richard Gagnon; children, Bobbie Ellen Gagnon Riggle (Bill), Patricia Anne Gagnon Mullis (Joe), Richard Michael Gagnon, James Donald Gagnon (Deborah), and John H. Gagnon Jr. (Shawna).
Jack lived a full life, moving with family from Van Buren, Maine to San Diego during WWII back to Maine, then to Sanford, Maine. His family finally settled in South Portland, Maine where he met and fell in love with a neighbor, Pearl. After graduating from Chevrus High School in 1950, he again moved with the family to Hartford, Connecticut. When it was inevitable that he would be drafted into the US Army, he enlisted in the US Air Force. His travels took him from state to state. It seemed like a “surgery” to be separated from Pearl; so, in 1954 he decided to marry his sweetheart, who by that time was working in Connecticut as a laboratory technologist. They were wed in South Portland in August of 1954. After a brief honeymoon, they went back to Topeka, Kansas, where he was stationed.
Their marriage was eventful, taking the pair to Madrid, Spain, back to USA for two years, to Paris, France and eventually to Stuttgart, Germany. They had 5 children together and the grandchildren began to appear when they moved to Valdosta, GA and then to Montgomery, AL. From 14 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and even a few great-great grandchildren arrived.
Due to his failing health, Jack and Pearl moved to Omaha in 2020 to live with their oldest daughter. He was flooded with joyous visits by his Midwest great-grandchildren and even a few great-greats, adding to his memories of his southern great and great-great offspring. He loved them all and will be missed.
