Stan Atwood       1928 - 2008

Stanley Nelson Atwood, 80, Bowdoinham, Maine, died Jan. 10, 2008, at his home, surrounded by his five children.

He was born in Lisbon, Maine, Jan. 9, 1928, the son of Horace Stanley Atwood and Clara Louise Moore. He attended local schools before joining the Army at the age of 17, where he proudly served for 30 years. His first tour of duty was near Bremen, Germany. There he met Ingeborg Behnert, his wife of 49 years, whom he called the love of his life, and whom he lost in 2001. His major role in the Army was working with the Army Corps of Engineers. He was a veteran of three wars; World War II, Korea and Vietnam. His Army career brought he and his family to many different locations including three tours of duty in Germany, as well as assignments in Missouri, Illinois, Massachusetts, Virginia, Maine and North Dakota.

He retired and moved back to Maine in 1976, first living in Topsham before building a home in Bowdoinham almost 20 years ago. Over the last several years, on any given day, he could be found sharing a meal and good conversation with his friends at Town Landing Restaurant, Bowdoinham.

Following retirement, he was involved in a variety of activities. He became a master teacher for Hunter Safety, Personal Safety and Junior Rifle Teams for the State of Maine. He also ran rifle and pistol classes for the NRA. He taught classes for over 20 years, believing that safety in the use of firearms was of the utmost importance. He joined Merrymeeting Sportsmen Association about 26 years ago. He has been instrumental in the club's programs and activities, and has served as president, secretary and treasurer. The camaraderie and friendships he made while in this association were one of his greatest pleasures.

In recent years, he enjoyed attending Woodturning Association meetings, learning to make wooden bowls. Although he was a woodworker his entire life, he always enjoyed learning new skills in the hobby that he loved. He both gave and received a tremendous amount of love and respect from friends and family alike, including his many beloved Brittany spaniels. In recent years he enjoyed traveling with and visiting his family members, most recently to Alaska, Minnesota, Germany and Lake George, N.Y.

Surviving are his daughters, Karin Atwood Congleton and her husband, Brian Congleton, Topsham, and Donna Louise Atwood, Alexandria, Va.; and his sons, Eric Benjamin Atwood and his wife, Corie Atwood, and Alan Horace Atwood, all of Bismarck, and Gary Nelson Atwood and his wife, LuAnn Atwood, Bowdoinham. He has five grandchildren, Joel, Kristi, Lindsey, Kyla and Cole; as well as four great-grandchildren, Tiffany, Jondrea, Rhondi and Paige. Also surviving are his siblings, Phyllis Epps, Ronald and Larry Atwood and Merrilyn Tombrinck, all of Topsham.

Visiting hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. EST Sunday, Jan. 13, at Stetson's Funeral Home, 12 Federal St., Brunswick, Maine, 04011. Funeral services with military honors will be held at 10 a.m. EST Monday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to either Coastal Humane Society, 30 Range Road, Brunswick, or Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program, 84A Union Street, Brunswick.

Stan’s daughter Karin sent this along

A few years ago I became interested in kayaking. I asked dad if he would help me build a wooden kayak. Over a 13-month period in 2002-03, we worked on the kayak. The kayak actually took 8 months to build – he had heart surgery and rehab within that time span, stopping our progress for 5 months until he got his strength back. I would go to his shop several nights a week for a couple of hours and at least one weekend day. Everything was made by hand ... from cutting the individual strips to hand braiding the rope pulls and cutting the brass fittings for the hatches. Dad was a great teacher – showing me each technique along the way, and letting me then do it myself.

In the summer of 2003, we had a launching, so yes, we finished her – "Heartshine". She is hanging in my garage. As important to me as the kayak is, even more important is the memory of the countless number of hours in Dad's shop, working together, listening to classical music and smelling sawdust.

Before Christmas of 2006, Dad started to teach me just a bit about turning bowls. He has a few bowls at his house – this weekend I'll take a couple of photos and send them to you. They are mostly unfinished – I  think he always considered himself a dabbler at woodturning and admired so much of the work that all of you did.

I've included a photo of me in the kayak, (taken by my friend Mary) just so you can see that it did get finished!

Thanks,

Karin Congleton