Harry Arthur Diehl
Diehl, Harry Arthur, 78, GREENVILLE, in Scarborough, March 24, 2010. A memorial service and celebration of Harry’s life is being planned for August in Presque Isle/Caribou.
Harry Arthur Diehl 12/5/1931 – 3/24/2010. Harry Diehl, a native son of GREENVILLE, recently passed away due to complications from asbestosis at the Maine Veterans Home at Scarborough, Maine. Harry was the middle of three sons of Myrtle (McGee) and Robert Martin Diehl, Sr.
During his high school years, Harry was captain of the Greenville H.S. football team, and during the summer, Harry worked alongside his family in the Conservation Department of the Maine Forestry Service.
From 1951-55, Harry joined the U.S. Navy, where he graduated from the Navy's highly selective Electronics Technician School, and served as an E.T. aboard the USS Shelikof, USS Saipan, and USS LSMR-514.
Harry was an avid boxer during his service years, as well as a seasoned traveler, spending time in the Mediterranian, Malta in particular.
After the Navy, Harry attended University of Maine at Orono, where he earned a B.S. in Physics and a M.A. in Education. He invested 34 years in the Maine State Teachers Association, holding positions as a teacher and principal in Greenville, Jackman and Milo High Schools. Harry maintained his ‘conservation duties’ into adult life, carrying his kids in a backpack up to the Mt. Kineo Fire Tower, where he performed fire watch duties for the Moosehead Lake region during the summer.
In 1970, Harry moved his family to Presque Isle to become an instructor of electronic applied mathematics at Northern Maine Community College (formerly N.M.V.T.I.). Harry retired in 1986, while holding the position of Assistant Director at N.M.C.C.
He spent the summer of 1970 finding a spot at Squa Pan Lake, and built by hand, a camp that is still used as a family gathering point. Harry remarried in 1984 and shared his life with Barbara ‘Joyce’ (Smith) Diehl until her passing in 1998. Harry’s three children, along with Joyce’s three sons, blended their lives together and have enjoyed many family reunions at the camp. This will, no doubt, continue as we honor and celebrate Harry’s life at the place that brought him so much happiness.
Harry (affectionately known as “Big Harry Diehl”), was supportive in all of his children’s lives, and never stopped the learning/teaching process with any. Harry was very well-read, staying up on current events and always maintaining an interest in technological advancements.
He was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Joyce; and his older brother, Robert “Bob” Diehl, Jr.
He is survived by his younger brother, Paul and his wife Priscilla; his three children, Donna Shaheen of Orlando, Andrea Fanning, her husband Rich and their children Nicolas and Marissa of Windham, Maine, and son Karl Diehl of St Paul, MN. He is also survived by Herman & Marilyn Diehl of Groveland, MA; Jolene Diehl of Hyannis, MA; his step-sons and their wives, C.B. Smith & Lin Chaloub, his children, Crystal and Casey Smith, all in Northern Maine; Scott & Patty Smith, and Stuart & Cheryl Smith, all of NH; and various nieces, nephews and cousins. Harry will be remembered by special friends, Becky Dean and Ken McCausland from Presque Isle, and Julio Shaheen of Orlando, FL, and Lisa Pruett of Kane, PA, as well as many friends and former coworkers.
A memorial service and celebration of Harry’s life is being planned for August in Presque Isle/Caribou.
