Bruce Merrill

BRUNSWICK — Bruce Merrill, 74, of Brunswick, passed away Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, at home with his family at his side.

He was born in Bath, Maine, on Oct. 22, 1943, to Dorothy Liljeberg and Irving Merrill.

He graduated from Morse High School in 1961, and attended the University of Southern Maine.

Bruce enjoyed life to the fullest, loved people and touched the soul of everyone who he met. His hobbies included crafting various items, such as lighthouse table lamps using old power line insulators and spools used in woolen mills, building and restoring outbuildings, and playing basketball with family and coworkers. He was an avid Celtics fan. He enjoyed gardening, cutting firewood, gathering sap for Maple syrup with his grandchildren, and walking in nature, identifying edible plants.

The biggest lesson he has shared with his family is that you are never too old to better yourself by learning new things. For many years he also enjoyed activities such as camping, fishing, sailing, weather journaling, bean suppers and the flea market circuit.

He worked at The Portland Company and Rigby Machinery, and retired from Howell Labs in Bridgton.

He married Jeanne (Vallaincourt) Merrill on Jan. 21, 1967, and lived in Windham for 43 years.

Bruce was predeceased by his parents; grandmother; Josephine Nadeau; and Uncle Raymond and Aunt Sylvia Nadeau of Bath. He is survived by his wife Jeanne Merrill; sister, Patricia DeGeorge and her husband Tom DeGeorge of Colorado Springs, Colo..; son, Eric Merrill and his wife Kimberlee, their two children Nathaniel and Adrianna Merrill of Naples; and son Scott Merrill and his fiancé Kate Walsh and her two children Clancy and Owen Walsh of Yarmouth. Later in life Bruce connected with additional biological siblings on his birth father's side: Peter Ellstrom (predeceased), Bob Ellstrom, Jane Mazzaferro and Susan Gates of Fitchburg, Mass.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Brunswick Hotel, 4 Noble Street, Brunswick.  Condolences may be expressed to the family at: www.FuneralAlternatives.net. Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives, Brunswick.