AUBURN — Bertrand Alphonse Gendron went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Nov. 3, after a courageous battle with cancer with his loving family by his side.

Bert was born on Aug. 4, 1930, to Joseph and Marie Louise (Forgues) Gendron and was always proud of his name and heritage. He attended Lewiston schools. He served our country in the U.S. Army, Airborn from 1948 to 1950. Bert and his wife Therese (Tardif) were married in 1953, and he was madly in love with her until the day he passed.

After his military service, he operated his father’s filling station in Lewiston among numerous other trades including hand sewing and carpentry.

Along with his brother-in-law, Clarence Letourneau, they began Merit Pools and the International Health Club. Later as a self-employed contractor, he built the home and was caretaker for the late Dr. J.P Nadeau.

In 1971, Bert and Dollard Gendron purchased Armand Fillion Construction and it became Gendron & Gendron in 1972. Bert, who was a partner of Gendron & Gendron, was a finish carpenter who was responsible for the construction of 19 residential homes during the period of 1971 through 1987. He could work a project from start to finish which included operating equipment, pouring concrete foundations and the construction of the homes. Bert retired in 1987. Bert’s son, Tony, has followed in his father’s footsteps and has been with Gendron & Gendron since 1983.

Bert had many hobbies including running several marathons in the 1980s and running his Christmas tree farm, Spruce Valley Tree Farm. He built his own kit car, a1937 Gazelle. He also enjoyed traveling, RVing and camping with his family.

He was an avid fan of the Lewiston Maineiacs holding season tickets since their arrival to Lewiston. He also enjoyed family gatherings at his tree farm. Bert loved Wednesday night card games playing “13” with his family and winning every time. Bert loved his dog Mickey, who loved Berts egg mcmuffins. Bert, known as Poppy to his 28 grandchildren, as well as his 20 great-grandchildren loved and adored them all.

Besides his wife, Therese, he is survived by four sons, Burt and his partner, Jill, Mark and his wife, Janice, Tony and his wife, Lori and Randy and his partner, Suzanne; six daughters, Gayle Fournier and her husband, Dickie, Kathy Mercier and her husband, Phillip, Paula Grondin and her husband, Mark, Renee Rivet and her husband, Edward, Melissa Williams and Sonia Dallaire and her husband, Raymond; brothers, Dollard Gendron and his wife, Priscilla and Claude Gendron and his wife, Jackie; sisters, Beatrice Guimond and Irene Letourneau and her husband, Clarence; brothers-in-law, Robert Parent and Fern Tardif; and three sisters-in-law, Madeleine Gendron, Jeannette Gendron and Dorothy Ritchie.

He was predeceased by an infant daughter, Anne Marie; a grandson, Christopher Michael Gendron; brothers, Arthur and Maurice; a sister, Blanche Parent; and a sister-in-law, Rolande Deschaines.

The family would like to thank Dr. Gordon, Dr. Pandey and all those who cared for Bert in the past few weeks as well as Dr. Austin and the Hospice House staff.

As a husband, father, brother, and friend, Bert deeply touched our lives and he will be forever greatly missed.

Online condolences may be shared at www.dostiefuneralhome.com.