Charles H. DeGroot

He was the only child born to the late Charles and Susan (Murray) DeGroot on December 21, 1928 in Summit, New Jersey. He was a 1946 graduate of Summit High School. He met Noreen Smith while they were working together in a grocery store. They married on August 15, 1953 and were lucky enough to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary last year.

They settled in Summit and raised five children there. He served in the New Jersey Army Reserves in the 1950's. He was proud to have been a firefighter for 26 years with the Summit Fire Department before retiring in 1979 and moving to Topsham, Maine. There, he opened Red Schoolhouse Antiques where he restored many beautiful pieces of furniture before closing the shop in 2000. In 2002, he and Noreen moved full time to their camp on Rangeley Lake that they built in the 1960's. 

The camp in Rangeley was his favorite place on Earth. His family shared his love of the camp and have many happy memories of boating and fishing in the summer, snowmobiling in the winter and many competitive games of International Rummy. He was an unwavering fan of the Green Bay Packers and spent many hours yelling at the television while watching them. He could also tell you the year and model of any antique car. While he was still a firefighter, he helped restore the department’s 1927 antique fire truck and he drove it in parades all over New Jersey. He could repair almost anything that was broken and build anything that he needed. He always owned a dog and, in later years, discovered he loved cats too. He was a member of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Oquossoc. 

He is survived by his loving wife Noreen, son Robert DeGroot and his wife Joyce of Eagle River, Alaska, son Richard DeGroot and his wife Teresa of Coatesville, PA, daughter Patricia Shaw and her husband Ron of Naples, Maine, son Joshua DeGroot of Wiscasset, Maine and daughter Katrina DeGroot and her husband Tim McMahon of Portland, Maine. He is also survived by nine grandchildren-Rebecca, Heather, Emily, Christopher, Sarah, Molly, Andrew, Grace and Declan and one great grandson Evan. 

A memorial service will be held at a later date and interment will be at St. Teresa's Cemetery in Summit, New Jersey. 

Please visit www.advantageportland.com to sign Charles’ guestbook and to leave condolences for the family.