LEWISTON – George R. Cloutier, 83, of Lewiston, went to be with the Lord on May 28, at St. Mary’s Medical Center with his family by his side. He died of colon cancer.

He was born in Lewiston on March 21, 1925, a son of the late Alfred and Nora Cloutier.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945, serving under Gen. George S. Patton Jr. in the European, eastern and African theater of operations including the landing at Anzio Beachhead.

He also participated in the invasion of France leading up to D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, receiving a Purple Heart for wounds received in combat and spent time as a POW. After the war, he worked for the Maine Central Railroad and then became a self-employed painting contractor until retirement. After retirement and his return to Maine, he worked as a custodian for St. Mary’s Church.

In 1946, he married Rita Charest and raised five children at their home on Taylor Pond in Auburn. In 1985, he and his wife retired to Florida, where together they spent long hours gardening and enjoying retirement together.

In 1995, he lost his wife to a stroke. In 1998, he married Jeannine Breton. Together they became loved by relatives and strangers alike. He was always willing to help when people were in need and gave respectfully of himself, never seeking for recognition or thanks.

To all his children, Dad gave wisdom and love. To his grandchildren, Pepere gave them lots of love and security. To his great-grandchildren, Pepe gave them that infectious smile they will carry with them in his legacy.

He is survived by his second wife of 10 years, Jeannine Breton Cloutier; a daughter, Joan, and husband, Dave Stops, of Edgewater, Fla.; sons, Bertrand Cloutier and his wife, Evangeline, of Sabattus, Don and Pauline Cloutier of Monmouth, Daniel and Wanda Cloutier of Edgewater, Fla., and Mike and Pauline Cloutier of Edgewater, Fla.; four stepsons, Bert Breton and wife, Gloria, of Turner, Don Breton of Mechanic Falls, Mark Breton and wife, Joyce, of Auburn and Rick Breton of Auburn; 18 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents; first wife of 49 years, Rita Charest Cloutier; his brothers, Robert and Maurice Cloutier; and stepson, Denis Breton.

The family would like to give special thanks to the ICU and C2 staff of St. Mary’s Medical Center for their compassion and dignity to the person they knew as “George.”