CANTON — Ernest P. Venskus, 92, formerly of Rumford, died Monday, Oct. 2, at the Pinnacle Health & Rehab, Canton.
He was born in Mexico on Feb. 16, 1925, the son of Ernest Chabot and Annie Venskus, and graduated from Mexico High School, Class of 1943.
Ernest served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. He recently celebrated 48+ years of sobriety with the local AA chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous. He headed up the Cancer Support Group at the Rumford Community Hospital for many years and was proudly known as “The Candy Man” in Rumford, which gave him great joy.
He worked for Boise Cascade Paper Co. as a lead man in the belt shop for many years.
He was married Oct. 10, 1949, in Rumford, to Mary Margaret Perry, who died Jan. 27, 2016, in Rumford. Survivors include a son, Frank J. Venskus and wife, Ramona, of Augusta; three grandsons; two great-granddaughters; two great-grandsons; two great-great grandsons; one great-great-granddaughter; stepsisters Lorraine Buckmister of Medford, Ore., and Alice Chabot of Slymer, Calif.; and stepbrothers, Charles Bokowsky of Mexico and Danny Bokowsky of Norway.
Friends are invited to sign the family guest book and share their thoughts, condolences and fond memories online at www.meaderandson.com. The mailing address for the family is Venskus Family, P.O. Box 411, Manchester, ME 04351.
Ernest P. Venskus
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