Carl Tetu

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Carl H. Tetu, lovingly known to all who knew him as "Opie," 87, died peacefully at York Hospital after a period of failing health. He was born on Oct. 13, 1922 in Stratford Hollow, N.H.

As a young man he grew up on a dairy farm and learned that he had a deep passion for his animals and farming of all types. He moved to South Berwick, Maine, in April 1951.

Carl worked and retired from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 1984 and began working as a custodian for the town of South Berwick until he was 80 years of age. Carl loved his family. He spent his life with his wife Blanche, of 68 years raising their children, their grandchildren and their great-grandchildren on a small hobby farm in South Berwick. Carl loved to go camping with his family and spent the summers and weekends traveling to different campgrounds.

Carl also enjoyed spending time with his wife Blanche (Omie) at the Senior Center in South Berwick, Maine. Together, they made a lot of friends and looked forward to the events they would often hold there.

He was a loyal son, husband, father, friend and caretaker. He worked with bottomless vigor, and somehow always appeared to be 25 years younger than his age. You could always find him working out in the yard or tending to his animals with his great grand kids not far behind him.

Opie (German for great grandfather) would often call all the children his "million" as an expression of what they meant to him. The mold was truly broken on this often tough, verbally direct, overly generous, secretly sensitive, and humble self-made man. He will truly be missed.

Predeceased by his parents, John and Josephine Tetu, son Donald Tetu and daughter-in-law Ursula Tetu, he leaves his beloved wife, Blanche; sons, Richard Tetu and his wife Sharon of South Berwick, Maine; Robert Tetu and Elaine Chasse of Sanford, Maine and daughter, Tina Eaton and her husband Darrell Eaton of South Berwick, Maine; grandsons, Richard Zuschlag, David Tetu, Tommy Tetu, Timmy Markland, Robert Tetu Jr., William Tetu, Donny Tetu; granddaughters, Tammie Cilley, Megan Tetu, Lexy Eaton, Heidi Tetu, Robin Murphy, Dawn Chase, Bobbi-Jo Seccomb. He also has 22 great-grandchildren, and three great, great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be performed in the spring for family and friends

We especially wish to thank the hospital staff at York Hospital for their incredible care and support. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the South Berwick Senior Center.

Please go to www.mcintiremccooey.com to sign the online guest book.

Visit the online guest book at www.fosters.com/obits