ROCKLAND – Bruce Edward Gamage, Sr., 91, died Friday, June 23, 2017, at the Knox Center for Long Term in Rockland.

Born in Rockland, April 6, 1926, he was the son of John E. and Bernice Savage Gamage. He was educated in local schools.

At the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, to serve the country he loved. A machine gunner in a Sherman tank, he served under General George Patton. He fought hard in the Battle of the Bulge along with his two brothers Richard and John, while his brother Milton had 56 bombing missions over enemy territory. They all returned home.

Following World War II, he married the love of his life Frances Robishaw, of Rockland, and together they had three children, Bruce, Nancy and Ann Marie. Frances passed away in 1972 during open heart surgery.

After her death, he found love again and married Christine Mank Makie. This union brought six additional children into his life that he loved and fathered. Christine passed away in 2009.

He was blessed at the end of his life to have the friendship and companionship of Leatrice Gamage. Together they enjoyed playing cards, attending family functions, and working auctions.

Bruce first worked in a shipyard, a Gamage family tradition, under the supervision of his father John and brother Elliot, both Master Shipbuilders.

He was always willing to do whatever it took to provide for his family and had multiple jobs including selling insurance, driving taxi, cutting wood, working at the Rockland Fire Department, and spending 15 years as a Rockland Police Officer.

After retiring from the police force he and his wife Christine, opened a used furniture store on Pleasant Street, called the Bruce and Chris Shop. They later closed that business and moved to Florida for a few years, before eventually returning home.

His interests were many, including hunting and fishing in his early years, playing cards, working his son’s auctions, going to the casino, and telling jokes. He especially loved golf and spent hours at the Rockland Golf Club where he met some of his closest friends.

In addition to his parents and wives, Bruce was pre-deceased by one sister Edna Willis; six brothers, Milton, Richard, Carl, Ernest, Elliot and John; his daughter, Nancy Beverage and step-daughter, Lynne Haskins. He is survived by one son, Bruce Gamage, Jr, and his wife Becky of Rockport; one daughter, Ann Marie Orne of Thomaston; son-in-law, Edward Beverage of North Haven; seven grandchildren, Bruce Gamage and his wife Susan Oliver of Rockland, Wendy Gamage Jacques and her husband Robert of Warren, Jennifer Mazurek and her husband Richard of Rockland, Morgan Mayo of North Haven, Desiree Mayo of Hampden, Ansel and Alexandria Orne of Rockland; nine great-grandchildren, Joseph Nelsen, Braden Gamage, Nicholas and Alexis Mazurek, Lydia, Sydney and Aliza Gamage, Tobe Sargent and Isabelle Adams; one great-great granddaughter, Brooklynn Gamage; his step-children, Alan Haskins, Roxanne and Ray Seader of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Rhonda Collins and her companion Brian Kincaid of Stuart, FL, Duane Makie of Warren, and James Makie of Cushing, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was truly loved and will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

Friends and relatives are invited to visit from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 27, 2017, at the Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, where a funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, June 28. James W. Brannan, Esquire, will officiate. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Coughlin Memorial Cemetery, Rankin Street, Rockland. A reception and celebration of life will follow the services at the Rockland Golf Club, 606 Old County Road, Rockland.

While flowers are gratefully accepted, those who wish may make memorial donations to the Patient Activities Fund, Knox Center for Long Term Care, C/O Pen Bay Medical Center, 22 White Street, Rockland, ME 04841.

To share a memory or condolence with Bruce family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.