CASCO — We are sad to announce that John P. Polland of Casco passed away on December, 22, 2023.

He was born to Norman and Phyllis (Rolfe) Polland on December 24, 1935, and lived most of his life in the Webbs Mills area of Casco. He graduated from Casco High School in 1953 where he was vice president of his class.

Upon graduation, John began a long career with Dielectric Communications in Raymond until his retirement.

In 1956, he married Sandra Bartlett of Poland, Maine, and together they
had three daughters, Rebecca, Amy and Molly. It was after a divorce that John met a special woman, Gloria (Tracey) Waugh, along with her four children, Christopher, Peter, Shelley and Julie. They wed in 1970 and the families merged into a family of nine, in the Webbs Mills farmhouse. The family endured many challenges that often accompany blended families. As John would say, “We were not the Brady Bunch!” Though John and Gloria were different in many ways, they both had their strengths. John was most comfortable in his role as a provider and rarely had an idle moment. Gloria paused her work in the secretarial field to care and provide stability for the family through many adjustments and transitions.

Those who knew John best understood his love of the land. He always had a large garden that reaped many vegetables, cords of wood that he harvested from his land, as well as fishing and hunting that contributed to family meals. He enjoyed his love for the outdoors with family and friends over the years and shared many stories along the way. John also held a deep passion for reading and always had a vast library of books including Alaskan adventures to history and everything in between. Though very serious in nature most of the time, John was known to enjoy a good “Peanuts” comic strip, and a ride in his old 1947 Jeep with no top and no doors fondly named “The Rattlesnake Mountain Boys” (you had to be there).

John was predeceased by his wife Gloria, parents Norman and Phyllis, sister Lorna Murley, all of Casco, daughter Rebecca VandeParre of New Hampshire, stepson Christopher Waugh of Florida and his grandson Matthew Waugh of Naples.

Surviving family members include Amy (Glen) Chaplin of Harrison, Molly Polland of Sebago, Shelley (Chris) Morse of Waterboro, Julie (Robert) Senter of Standish and Peter Waugh of Brooklin. Grandchildren include Travis, Melissa, Jonathan, Adam, Taylor, Corey, Brandon, Meaghan, Devin, Alex and Autumn. Great-grandchildren include Allura, Wyatt, Cole, Oliver, Daniel, Jenna and Lilly.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Country Village Assisted Living in Casco for their love, care and support during his final years.

Family and friends are welcome to celebrate John’s life from 1 to 3 p.m., Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, at the Hall Funeral Home in Casco. Tributes may be shared at www.hallfuneralhome.net.