PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Gerard “Gerry” R. Pelletier, 76, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away unexpectedly Thursday, Jan. 20. He was a current resident at the Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans’ Nursing Home.

Gerry was born on Dec. 12, 1934, in Lewiston, the son of the late Paul Thibeault and the late Elizabeth Pelletier, both of Auburn, and was educated in Lewiston and Auburn schools.

In 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of the Korean War.

In 1956, he married Rhena L Collet. Together, they raised three children at their Pleasant Street home in Lewiston.

A hand stitcher by trade, he was employed by Dexter Shoe and Quoddy Moc for several years, hand sewing shoes, belts and moccasins.

He was also a Lewiston firefighter for more than 20 years. Retiring in 1975 after receiving injuries in an accident while on the job.

He loved living at his waterfront home on Lakeshore Drive in Leeds for several years.

He enjoyed family time by hosting huge lobster feeds, fishing with his grandchildren and hunting with his son, son-in-law and grandsons. Camping, boating, going to the beach and playing cards were all his favorite activities. Woodworking and building creches (Christmas mangers) then giving them away gave him great joy.

Gerry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Rhena, though separated for the last eight months due to circumstance, they planned to reunite in California later this spring; two daughters and their families, Patricia Dube of Greene, and her husband, Tom, sons, Benjamin Dube of Turner and Jeffrey Dube of West Chester, Pa., and Monique Roberts of Friant, Calif.; son, Joey Roberts of Tumwater, Wash., and daughter, Jenna Roberts of San Francisco, Calif.; siblings, Rolande Gaudreau of Northport, Fla., Dorothy St. Hilaire of Lewiston and Robert Pelletier of Winthrop; other surviving family members are many nieces, nephews and three great-granchildren, Alexia, Jack and Logan.

Along with his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Raymond Pelletier; his son, Maurice Pelletier; and most recently, his grandson, Jason Dufour.