CARIBOU, Maine — U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Peter F. Miesburger, retired, a longtime advocate for veterans and a “founding father” of the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery, has died at age 82.
According to his obituary in this edition, he died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018, in Bangor.
Miesburger served more than 20 years in the United States Air Force as a master sergeant/fire protection crash rescue supervisor. Following retirement from the military he served in various capacities, including fire chief at Loring and as a fire station attendant for the Town of Limestone, in addition to operating a fire safety business serving Aroostook County.
He was a life member of many veterans service organizations, including Lister-Knowlton VFW Post 9389, American Legion Post 15, Air Force Association, Korean Veterans Service Association, Vietnam Veterans of America and Disabled American Veterans.
He joined the board of the Maine Veterans Home in Caribou in 1990, and was involved in helping found the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery. His efforts to garner medical care for veterans included advocating for the ARCH program, to allow veterans to receive care closer to home.
Caribou named him the Citizen of the Year in 1974, and he earned a Red Cross Hero Award in 2015. In 2017 he became the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living “Not For Profit Trustee Award” winner for his 27 years of service on the MVH board.
In a press release on Monday, Nov. 26, U.S. Sen. Susan M. Collins said, “Through his many years in the U.S. Air Force and his tireless advocacy for his fellow veterans, Pete’s life was marked by exceptional service to his country.
“Pete was a tremendous champion for ensuring that Northern Maine veterans have access to care close to home, and he was instrumental in the progress we made on community-based outpatient clinics and the ARCH program. Pete frequently travelled to Washington, D.C., to brief me on issues affecting Maine veterans, and I will greatly miss seeing him to discuss our shared priority of ensuring that veterans receive the benefits and resources they have earned.”
Collins added, “As one of the founding fathers of the Northern Maine Veterans’ Cemetery, it is fitting that Pete will be laid to rest there with the veterans he devoted his life to serving. My heart goes out to Jean, his wife of 50 years, and their children.”
Miesburger is survived by his wife, Jean, of Caribou; a daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Gilbert Merchant of Veazie; a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Pam Miesburger of Lakewood Ranch, Fla.; four grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held in Caribou Nov. 26.
