Stephen M. Kangas
PORTLAND – Stephen M. Kangas, 57, died Saturday August 7, 2021, at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
Stephen from Sumner, was born on Sept. 23, 1963 to Richard Kangas and Joan (Eastman) Campbell in Lewiston. At the age of 12, Frederick Campbell entered Stephen’s life as his loving stepfather who helped to raise Stephen through what would be some pretty “adventurous” teenage years where Stephen was usually accompanied by his stepbrother, Bruce Campbell and Tracey Hadley.
After graduating from Buckfield High School in 1981, he went on to study carpentry at Central Maine Vocational Technical Institute. He would then go on to work for his mother and stepfather at Twin-Town Glass in Norway before becoming a lineman for CMP. Most recently he was a project manager for Portland Glass and spent time as an instructor at Kennebec Valley Community College in the Line Worker’s Program which brought him some of the most fulfilling experiences in his work-career. He loved his role as teacher, and loved his students that much more.
In 1981 he met his wife, Kelly Gilliland, who he would wed in December of that same year. This year would mark their 40th wedding anniversary. Together, Stephen and Kelly raised three amazing sons, Joshua, Justin and Casey in Sumner where they lived for over 30 years. Stephen worked tirelessly, determined to provide for his family and give his sons and wife, Kelly, the life he felt they deserved. His family meant more to him than anything else in the world, and he was unendingly proud of his son’s, Joshua, Justin and Casey. It is undeniable that Stephen was truly a father that his children were so very proud of.
Growing up, in their younger years, Josh, Justin, and Casey hold unforgettable memories of their father coaching them in baseball, basketball, and soccer and into their high school years neither boy can remember a time when Dad ever missed even one of their games, even when it meant driving all the way to Rangeley, Bingham, and even out to Vinylhaven.
Stephen’s whole world revolved around his three beautiful granddaughters Maya, Quinn and Autumn. He was their “POPSI,” and what a Popsi he was. The love he had for these beautiful girls was out of this world. He spent every available moment he could with them.
Later in his life Stephen and Kelly fell in love with the ocean and the City of Rockland, where him and Kelly would eventually find themselves moving to Warren and building a beautiful new home which Stephen designed himself. When not at home you could probably find Stephen and Kelly walking the boardwalk and Main Street in Rockland with their bulldogs Winston and Blossom.
They spent many a year’s attending the North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland. The Blues were a passion of Stephen’s and he would let all he met know that, “Damn right, he had the blues!” Stephen and Kelly attended this year’s festival, which will be a memory that Stephen’s wife Kelly will hold with her and cherish forever.
Stephen is survived by his wife, Kelly Kangas of Warren; his son Joshua, wife Raquel, and their daughter, Autumn-Joan; his son Justin, wife Ashley and daughters, Maya and Quinn; and son Casey and partner Allyson Beaule; his parents, Fred Campbell and Richard and Louise Kangas; aunt and uncle Gail and Thayne Eastman; also, his brother Ricky and wife Donna, sister, Sharon Kangas and partner Sam Adler, his brother Randy and wife Becky; and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
Stephen was predeceased by his grandparents, Irene and Albert Eastman; his mother, Joan Campbell’ and his uncle, Leland Kangas.
Funeral services will be held Saturday August 14 at 1 p.m. at First Universalist Church, 1122 Main St., Sumner, Interment will follow at Pleasant Pond Cemetery in Sumner. To share memories and online condolences with the family please go to http://www.chandlerfunerals.com, arrangement are under the care of Chandler Funeral and Cremation Services, 45 Main St., South Paris.