JEREMIAH KANE CROCKETT LINNEUS – Jeremiah Kane Crockett, 41, died peacefully at his home with his family on Tuesday morning, April 4, 2017, after a five year courageous campaign against follicular lymphoma and synovial sarcoma cancers that he was ultimately unable to contain.
Jeremiah was born October 27, 1975, growing up in the Moosehead Lake region and graduating from Greenville High School. He studied forestry at the Maritime Forest Ranger School of the University of New Brunswick where he graduated with honors. He then worked with the US Forest Service in Maine’s Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge before joining the Maine Forest Service in 2000.
Jeremiah spent the past 17 years in a distinguished career as a forest ranger with the Maine Forest Service, Division of Forest Protection where he earned the respect and admiration of his fellow rangers and wildland firefighters. He experienced his first forest fire at the age of 12 while assisting his dad, Russ (also a forest ranger), in the mop-up of the Ragged Mountain fire. That incident sparked his love for the profession and determined his career path.
Jeremiah was an active wildland firefighter with extensive training in incident management. His leadership was instrumental in developing Maine’s East Branch T2IA fire crew, which was mobilized locally and nationally on many occasions. Jeremiah frequently deployed for wildland fires across the country (most recently November 2016) and was well known by the national firefighting community. He was a member of the Southern Area Type II Incident Management Team, assisting many western and northwestern states in combatting their wildland fires. His experience and qualifications developed him into one of the foremost wildland firefighters in Maine.
Jeremiah was also active in Maine’s wildland hazard mitigation programs and conducted many prescribed burns that helped communities promote fire safety and defensible space. One of his passions was promoting Maine’s fire programs. His dedication, commitment, loyalty and passion for his profession will be missed by his colleagues.
When Jeremiah wasn’t preventing forest fires he often liked to relax around the fire pit in his backyard with family and friends. Being outside ignited his spirit – hiking, camping, kayaking, four-wheeling, yardscaping, throwing horseshoes and shoveling snow were all favorite pastimes. When indoors, Jeremiah dabbled at woodworking, carpentry and craft beer brewing, all with excellent results. He was active in his community, serving on the Houlton school board and the Linneus Planning and Appeals board and was a member of the Houlton Lodge of Elks.
A dedicated husband and father, Jeremiah will be remembered for his quiet compassion, his strength of character and his great love for his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Gretel (McNutt) Crockett of Linneus; his sons, Elyjah of Hodgdon and Phoenix of Burlington, VT; his daughter, Ella of Linneus; his mother and step-father, Sophia and Russell Beauchemin of Smyrna; his sisters, Heather Crockett of Monticello and Eva Beauchemin of Rockland; his parent-in-laws, Marcia Chapman and Dr. Henry Fisk and Ted and Lori McNutt; his grandmother-in-law, Barbara “Nana” Chapman; sister-in-laws and their spouses, Stacey and Lynn McNutt-Girouard and Angie and Jimmy Koutsikos; nieces and nephews, Dylan, Sophia, Pano, Lauren and Izzy as well as a multitude of aunts, uncles and cousins. He was predeceased by his father, David Crockett.
A memorial service will be held 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 8th, 2017, at the Houlton Wesleyan Church, 18 Kelleran Street with Pastor Wayne Robertson officiating. A celebration of life and fellowship will be immediately following at the Houlton Lodge of Elks, 86 Main Street, Houlton. Donations in Jeremiah’s name may be made to the Bridge to Hope, 23 Charles Street, Houlton ME 04730. For an online memory book and to leave condolences please visit www.bowersfuneral.com
