AUBURN — Roland Patneaude, 79, passed away peacefully on Dec. 16, at the Hospice House, with loved ones by his side.

He was born in Rumford, Oct. 25, 1932, the son of Elzedas and Mary (Galarneau) Patneaude. Roland enlisted in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1950, and served bravely during the Korean War with the 14th Combat Engineers.

Roland was a mechanical engineer and worked as plant engineer for W.S. Libbey Co. in Lewiston, until 1982. At that time, he started his own business and until his retirement, was co-owner of Mountain Machine Works in Auburn with his dear friend, Bruce Tisdale. He was an environmentalist and devoted his spare time to developing alternative energy sources. He was an amateur geologist and taught everyone around him how to prospect for gold in the rivers of Maine.

Roland was a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and friend. He was a master Maine guide and an avid fly fisherman and hunter. He loved the state of Maine and knew every area of the Maine woods like the back of his hand. He taught his family all he knew about the natural beauty of the state that he loved so much.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Susan (Gagnier-Duston); his 12 children, Roland and his wife, Gloria, Matthew and his fiancee, Doreen, Kathleen Ronan and her husband, Dennis, Joseph and his partner, Cary, Wanda Merrill and her husband, Bill, Patricia Choroszy and her husband, Paul, Michael and his wife, Missy, Robert and his partner, Laurie, Steven, Greg and his partner, Tasha, Jeff and his wife, Darla and Amy Connolly and her husband, Chris; 26 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; his only surviving sister, Jeannette Libby and her partner, Jerry; his former wife, Joyce; and his two stepsons, Mark Duston and his wife, Erica and Matthew Duston, who loved him as their own father.

Roland was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Richard; and his sister, Theresa DeSalle, all of Rumford.

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