SPRUCE HEAD — Bradley D. ‘Butch’ Rackliff, 59, passed away February 3, 2018 at the Sussman House in Rockport, after fighting a brave battle against cancer.  Born in Rockland, April 28, 1958, he was the youngest son of Norma J. and the late Alvin B. Rackliff of Spruce Head.  He attended schools in St. George and Thomaston and proudly earned his GED in later years.  Growing up he was fondly known as the ‘little agitator’ and ‘the Geritol Kid’. 

Butch was a highly motivated and hardworking self-employed Lobsterman for over 44 years, learning the business at the age of six from his mother and father.  He knew how to read the weather conditions and could predict what was going to happen next.  He was a Volunteer Firefighter for the Town of St. George as well as Deputy Harbor Master for the Wheeler’s Bay area and participated on the Fisherman’s Memorial Committee.

He married his wife, Juliann R. (Hooper) Rackliff, on February 14, 1993 and always lovingly referred to the relationship as being, “two peas in a pod”.  Even though they did not have any children, Butch oftentimes told people that his many beloved collies over the years were, “his kids” as they were highly regarded members of the family.  Additionally, he loved feeding the birds and made a special feeder for them out of trap wire.

Butch took great pride in maintaining his vehicles and boats, always keeping them well washed and waxed.  He loved lobstering and loved to talk about it and about boats with his many friends.  He greatly enjoyed looking for fish from the plane with his father as well as a few years of boating, snowmobiling and motorcycling with friends and family.  A homebody, he was king of the TV remote and often watched movies.  He loved to quote a line from a movie and ask you to name the movie it was from.  After his diagnosis with cancer, he kept himself strong with mottos such as ‘refuse to sink’, ‘never give up, never surrender’ and ‘I’m doing OK, it’s all uphill.’

Butch is survived by his wife, Juliann, and his mother, Norma Rackliff, both of Spruce Head.  He was a beloved brother and is survived by his siblings, Elaine and Steve Taylor, Sandra and Ron Vose, Dennis and Patty Rackliff, all of Spruce Head, and was predeceased by siblings, Lanny Rackliff, Brenda Jane Llera and Bonnie DeWolfe.  He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Joann Hooper, of Rockland, father-in-law F. Perry Hooper, of Florida, and sister-in-law Sherry Gagne, of Rockland, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, February 9, 2018 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.  A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, June 1, 2018 at Ocean View Cemetery, Spruce Head Road, South Thomaston.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841, or The Collie Rescue League of New England, P.O. Box 3689, Cranston, RI 02910-0689.  To share a story or memory with Butch’s family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.