SOUTH PARIS – Kai A. Pedersen Jr., 81, of Otisfield died Sunday, May 9, at the Maine Veterans Home.

He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on Nov. 16, 1922, the son of Kai and Vera Christiansen Pedersen. He lived most of his life in Bay Ridge, N.Y. He worked for Lange and Prue in New York City as a photolithographic artist, retiring in 1984.

He served as a Tech Sgt. in the U. S. Army Air Corp in World War II. He was a radio gunner aboard bombers flying out of England from 1942 to 1945. He was an avid ham radio operator, also a member of two Masonic Lodges in the State of New York for 58 years.

His love of fly-fishing and deer hunting kept him busy in his spare time. He was a busy beekeeper for many years with many hives.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Edna Madsen Pedersen, whom he married on Aug. 19, 1945; two daughters, Darleen Kelly and her husband Tom of New City, N.Y., and Terri Robbins and her husband Frank of Mt. Airy, Md.; three grandchildren, Karen Kelly of New City, N.Y., Mindy Robbins of Maryland, and Michael Robbins of Maryland; two great-grandchildren, Kara and Cassandra Robbins both of Maryland; several nieces and nephews; and a sister-in-law, June Shaw and her husband Barry of Calif.

He was predeceased by his parents; and two younger brothers.