Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

Rockland - John W. Gamage, 84, died surrounded by his loving family, Sunday, December 14, 2008 at his home, following a brief illness.
Born in Rockland, April 6, 1924, he was the son of John and Bernice Savage Gamage. He was educated in local schools. As a young boy Mr. Gamage held several jobs to help his family. At one point he worked for the NYA repairing street signs for the City of Rockland. He later under his father's tutelage at Snow's Shipyard in Rockland, where he learned the tools of the trade, using race knives and adzes to mould timbers and bevel planks.
At the age of 17, Mr. Gamage was inducted into the U.S. Army. After seven and a half weeks of basic training he fell ill with strep throat and a high fever. After hospitalization he contracted double pneumonia and wasn't expected to live. He made a full recovery and returned to basic training completing the 13 week requirement all over again. This was only the beginning of his illustrious military career. He participated in D-Day at Normandy, and the Battle of the Bulge. As a member of the 299th Engineer Combat Battalion, he was with one of the first of eight assault teams to land on Utah Beach, and was one of six to survive that assault from his battalion. Ultimately, Mr. Gamage received five Bronze Stars and a Silver Star for meritorious and heroic service to his country.
Upon his return to the states, Mr. Gamage married Agnes Johnson. Together they had seven children and shared 29 years of marriage.
Over the years Mr. Gamage has had several occupations. For many years he worked at Snow's Shipyard. Together they built a replica of Joshua Slocum, a 44-foot vessel. He also sold insurance in Bangor, and Electrolux Vacuums. He worked at St. Lawrence Seaway and Boothbay Shipyards. For a brief time he was employed by Eddie Gordon and later at a paper mill in New York. Returning to Rockland Mr. Gamage went back to work for Snow's Shipyard, then called National Sea Products. While there he was asked to produce a sign for Anthony's Pier 4 Restaurant in Boston. This sign still stands today.
July 18, 1980, he married Nancy A. Richardson in Rockland.
For several years, he enjoyed wintering in Florida.
Since retiring, he has continued working as an accomplished carpenter, restoring furniture for local antique dealers and restoring his own home. He built several half models of ships which were built locally, including models of the "Flying Cloud", "Red Jacket", "Young American" and "Cutty Sark".
An ardent sports fan, he enjoyed following all New England and local teams, but displayed a particular passion as a New England Patriots fan.
Mr. Gamage loved watching "Gun Smoke" reruns and often said, "They never made a bad Western."
His most fulfilling accomplishment of later years was his hours of volunteer service to area nursing facilities, where he was recognized as the 'King of Karaoke'. He regularly sang at Quarry Hill, Windward Gardens, Knox Center, the former Shore Village Nursing Center and Lucette Boarding Home. He was thrilled with the joy this brought to many of the Alzheimer and dementia residents of those facilities. Just this past Thursday, he practiced singing "White Christmas", in anticipation of again singing for the residents. This recording has already become a Gamage Family Heirloom. On that same day he was pleased to attend the Gamage Family Christmas Party.
Mr. Gamage was a member of the Aurora Lodge of Masons in Rockland, and the Winslow-Holbrook-Merritt American Legion Post No. 1, Rockland.
Mr. Gamage was predeceased the mother of his children, Agnes Johnson Gamage in 1985, two children, Brenda Gamage, William Gamage, five brothers, Eliot Gamage in 2008, Ernest S. Gamage, Sr. in 2006, Richard Gamage, Carlton Gamage, Milton Gamage, and a sister Edna Willis. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Nancy A. Gamage of Rockland; four sons, John Wesley Gamage and his wife Velma, James E. Gamage and his wife Cheryl, Richard "Ricky" Gamage and his wife Heidi all of Rockland, Ronald S. Gamage and his wife Jackie of Thomaston; a daughter Bernice "Bunny" Gieseman and her companion Jay Jones of Warren; brother Bruce Gamage, Sr. and his wife Christine S. of Rockland; his mother-in-law Vera Townsend of Rockland; sister-in-law Mrs. Eliot "Leatrice" Gamage of Rockland; 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 16, 2008 with a Masonic Service at 7:00 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, where a celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 17, 2008. The Reverend Wayne Sawyer will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kno-Wal-Lin Home Health and Hospice, 170 Pleasant Street, Rockland, Maine 04841.