ROBERT EUGENE ‘BOB’ CALLNAN, HOULTON AND PORTLAND – Robert Eugene ‘Bob’ Callnan, 93, died peacefully with his family by his side on February 4, 2018, at The Osher Inn at The Cedars, Portland, after a long and lively life. He was born on January 31, 1925, in Houlton, the son of Alice McAtee and Leo Callnan. After serving in WWII in the Merchant Marines, he attended Husson College and then returned to Houlton to run Aroostook Milling Company, a family owned business. Throughout his career he was certainly a favorite with farmers and other grain dealers.
He married Janet Dow on May 12, 1952 and enjoyed 55 years of love and companionship and raised six children. They were always together no matter what they did. Their true loves were camping, hunting, fishing, snow sledding, and their many dogs. Scotty’s Flying Service flew them in a float plane into many remote areas. Summers were spent at the family camps on Nickerson and East Grand lakes. Nickerson Lake was about swimming, water skiing and Sunday barbecues, while East Grand was sailing and countless hours of successful salmon fishing in the ‘Janet’ boat. They enjoyed many fun and adventurous experiences which also included wintering in Florida for over 30 years. His life was full of music, dancing and parties with a consistent attitude of “the more the merrier”. Throughout his life he had countless friends, of all ages, many becoming lifelong relationships.
Bob is survived by his sons, Douglas and Robert ‘Bert’ Callnan, his daughters, Kathryn Callnan and Maureen Callnan, Nancy Kuliga and Mary Beth Fitzpatrick, and their spouses; eight grandchildren, nine (almost ten) great-grandchildren, and his faithful Pug, Daisy. He was predeceased by his wife, Janet, granddaughter, Aimee Fitzpatrick, and his brothers, John and Gerald Callnan, and his sister, Dorothy Duran.
Friends may call on Saturday, February 17, 2018, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church on Saturday, February 17, at 11:00 a.m. with a Christian burial to follow at 11:00 a.m. The family invites relatives and friends to a reception immediately following the service at St. Anthony’s. Online condolences may be expressed at www.dunnfuneral.com.
Gifts may be made in Bob’s memory to The Aimee Fitzpatrick Scholarship Fund, Maine Community Foundation, 245 Main St., Ellsworth, ME 04605.
