Bruce Rodden

1928 –2016

Bruce Rodden, 87, took a last peaceful breath on October 2, 2016 at his home in East Madison. He was kept company on this journey by his daughter Lyz and longtime caregiver, Ann Lane.

Bruce was born in 1928 and attended Skowhegan area schools. He was an entrepreneur from an early age and parlayed this skill, and his love for all things outdoors, into a successful and longtime lumbering business. After high school, he started this business by hitchhiking his way “upriver” and worked in a lumber camp. He met Gloria and they married in 1951. He had started building his business before being stationed at an Army base in Texas. After Bruce’s honorable military discharge, he and Gloria moved right back to the place they loved best. His lumbering business kept him busy six days a week, but he loved being in the woods so much, most days it didn’t seem like work. He employed many people over the years and was given several safety awards from the Small Woodlands Owner Association of Maine. Bruce and his wife had two children and made their home in Skowhegan. He was proud to be a 42 year charter member of the Skowhegan-Madison Elks Lodge #2531. Leading up to retirement and beyond, they wintered in Pinellas Park, Florida. He and Gloria moved to East Madison in 2006.

In the earlier years, he and his family were avid snowmobilers and enjoyed many weekends out on the trails. There was always a camp to go to in the summer and waterskiing and family reunions. Bruce loved fishing and hunting. He and Gloria had many friends in both Florida and Maine. They were so busy after retirement; it was hard to track them down. They enjoyed golf and card games. Bruce finally found time to devote his time to all things woodworking. It started with birdhouses, clocks, and then furniture. He became quite accomplished and his home contains many of his creations that will be treasured by his family. He loved the Red Sox and rarely missed a game. He had a stroke in 2013, but that did not stop him from working in the shop, going out to eat at Ken’s, and enjoying drives up to The Forks. He now had time to tell stories of his life; from being on the river during log drives, having a one-eyed horse to help drag trees from the woods, and the crazy things that happened during his business years. Bruce’s close friends, Pete Foss and Ricky Lane, were frequent companions in the workshop and Bruce loved the times spent reminiscing and planning the next project. He gave freely to Catholic Charities and The Good Shepherd Food Bank. As he said when Gloria passed, “We had a good life, a really good life”. What a gift to be able to say that.

He is survived by his children, Tim and his wife Willa Jean, Lyz and her husband Joe; sister Elinor Clark of Madison; grandchildren Luke, Alanna, Gabrielle, and Emily; family friend Ian Pahl; and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his best friend and wife of 62 years, Gloria (Kennedy) Rodden; parents Arthur and June (Ames) Rodden; sister June (Rodden) Thibeault; and brother James Rodden.

Calling hours are 4:00 - 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 13 at Giberson Funeral Home, 40 Maple St., Madison. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Sebastian Catholic Church, Madison, at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 14. Burial will follow at St. Sebastian Cemetery on Father Rasle Road. A luncheon will be provided by the Daughters of Isabella at the St. Sebastian parish hall after the burial. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Bruce’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, PO Box 1807, Auburn ME 04211-1807 or at www.feedingmaine.org. The family extends profound gratitude to Ann Lane for her loyalty and dedication to the Rodden family. We could not have achieved so much without her.