ROXBURY – Leonide “Blackie” Arsenault, 82, of Roxbury Pond, died Wednesday, April 19, at his residence with his loving family by his side.

Blackie was born Oct. 4, 1923, in St. Paul, New Brunswick to Theodore “Ted” and Regina (Gallant) Arsenault. He graduated from Stephens High School in 1943.

The month he graduated from high school, he entered the Army. His unit landed in Normandy on D-Day with the first wave. Many members of his unit and accompanying units were killed. He was captured shortly thereafter by the German Army and was a prisoner of war for six months. He endured many hardships during that time.

After being liberated from the POW camp, he returned to Maine and married Muriel Patenaude on Feb. 25, 1946.

He retired from the maintenance department at Boise Cascade Paper after 42 years of service. He was a member of the 40-Year Club Boise Cascade. He also was a member of many other organizations in the area including Napoleon Ouellette, American Legion Post 24, Robert Shand V.F.W. Post 1641, Elks, Eagles, and a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a former president of the Chisholm Ski Club and participated in many of the club activities.

He and Muriel ran Blackie’s Ski Shop for a number of years, providing ski equipment to many local skiers.

Survivors include his loving wife, Muriel of Roxbury Pond; one son, David Arsenault and his wife, Sally, of Roxbury Pond; one daughter, Sylvia Wendt and her husband, Jim, of Frederick, Md.; two brothers, Gerard Arsenault and his wife, Pauline, of Millinocket and Leo Arsenault and his wife, Anne, of Wakefield, R.I.; three grandchildren, Erica Arsenault, Eric Arsenault and his wife, Janka and Andrew Wendt; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his brother, Mickey Arsenault.