Hede, John G., 84, February 5, 2014. Calling hours are from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14 at Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held Saturday, Feb. 15 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Stockholm. Spring interment to be held in the Stockholm Public Cemetery. Arrangements by Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home, Caribou.
STOCKHOLM – John G. Hede, 84, passed away early Wednesday morning, February 5, 2014, at his residence. He was born in Stockholm on October 31, 1929, the son of O. Elliot and Hilma (Nelson) Hede.
John served in U.S. Navy for four years, from 1948-1952. He graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in June 1956 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He accepted a job with Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica, CA., and worked for Douglas for one year. While in California, he took up flying. John met his future wife, Rosemary and immediately left for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, CT. John and Rosemary got married in December 1957, and they stayed in East Hartford for fifteen years.
In 1971, he quit Pratt and Whitney to become manager and president of Hede Family, Inc., operating the store and camps at Madawaska Lake. While at the store, John and Rosemary started the snowmobile trail system around the lake and were instrumental in organizing the Nordic Lakers Snowmobile Club. John owned a Taylorcraft airplane and gave many young people their first taste of flying. In 1984, he flew that airplane solo from Madawaska Lake to Willow, Alaska, camping out along the way.
In Hede’s Store at Madawaska Lake, he mentored many young people who had their first job clerking at the store.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Rosemary (Spix) Hede of Stockholm; a son, Lawrence Hede and his wife, Graciella of Cancun, Mexico; a daughter, Mary Minie of Port St. Lucie, FL; a brother, Harold Hede and his wife, Andrea of Eustis, FL; four sisters: Kathy Robinson and her husband, Rocky of New Sweden, Janet Sandstrom and her husband, Dale of Florida, Patricia Langen and her husband, Jerry of Old Town, and Gladys Merritt of Orono; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his parents; five brothers: Nelson, Howard, Richard, Daniel and Keith; and one sister, Bertha Rasmussen.
Throughout his life, he had loved and cared for his brothers and sisters and had been a special uncle to his nieces and nephews, playing an active part in their lives. He took care of his invalid mother and several of his siblings before their passing.
Relatives and friends may call 5-7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, at Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home, 11 Clover St., Caribou. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 15, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Stockholm, with Rev. Robert Smith officiating. Spring interment will be at Stockholm Public Cemetery. Donations may be made in his memory to the Stockholm Historical Society. Online condolences may be shared at www.lancastermorgan.com.
