Frank A. Gleason Jr.

FRANK A. GLEASON JR.
1923 - 2016
ANSON
- Frank Gleason passed into eternity and gazed upon the face of his Savior, Jesus Christ, and his loving wife, on Tuesday, May 26, 2016, doing what he liked so much in recent days: a ride with his son on a beautiful spring day.
He was born in Bingham, the son of Frank Sr. and Elizabeth (McIntee) Gleason, on May 6, 1923. He grew up in Solon and attended Solon School.
Frank enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942, proudly serving his country during World War II. He was in the 3rd Armored Division and took part in the D-Day Plus One landing. He also saw action in the Battle of the Bulge. Frank was a tank commander during the war. He was honorably discharged in 1946. He proudly wore his WWII hats and could remember his enlistment number, even on his 93rd birthday. He was a past member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Skowhegan.
He married Thelma Gordon and raised three sons in the Anson and Madison communities.
He worked most of his life as an independent woodsman, using his horses to yard and twitch wood. He was definitely one of the oldtime loggers of his day. He also worked for a brief time at what was the H&W Mill in Madison, later known as Great Northern and Madison Paper.
Frank and Thelma operated many dance halls throughout central Maine, most notably the Adler Brook dance hall in Embden, and Puddledock dance hall in Albion.
Not able to ignore the calling of the great outdoors Frank went back to what he loved most, working in the woods. In later years, he and his wife Thelma operated a boarding home for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Frank was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was always ready to tell one of his infamous stories about his exploits, often mentioning the vast amount of fish he caught in Baker, the bear he wrestled, or the big bucks he shot in this field or another! He had so many stories that, more often than not, would include his old time buddies Reggie and Josie Douglas, his close hunting and fishing partners.
One of his most enjoyable things in his later years was to ride up through Brighton. He loved it up there and never tired of going. He knew places and people who lived there, even with all evidence of a homestead gone.
He filled much of his time attending many of his grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's sporting events. He was so proud of them all. He never failed to mention to others how good they were or what they had accomplished.
Frank was a draft horse enthusiast, known throughout the fair communities as an accomplished teamster. He drove and pulled horses for 65 years, driving for the final time at the age of 84 at the Skowhegan Fair. He was the last of a generation of pullers unlike any other. He loved his horses, and traveled many miles to enter into pulling contests throughout the state as well as in Canada, being where he enjoyed it the most. He and his wife drove all the way to Missouri to purchase a team of horses, Bud and Orville. The local Missouri newspaper ran a large article, including pictures, of their adventure. He was a past member of the Maine Draft Horse & Ox Association as well as a member of the Eastern Horse Association. Horses were his and Thelma's biggest love!
Frank was predeceased by his wife, Thelma; his mother and father; brothers: Donald, Douglas, Stanley, Freeman Cray, and Harold Cray; sisters: Clara Heald, Aloise Stickney, Bertha Carl, and Myrtle Cole: and his stepson Joey Bishop.
He is survived by a sister, Katherine Stickney of Solon; sons Roland and wife Linda, Ronald and wife Maureen, and Frank "Skip" and wife Mary; sister-in-law Marion Gleason; daughter-in-law Marcia Bishop; grandchildren: Chris and wife Andrea, Clay and wife Nicole, Ryan and wife Sheila, Nicole and husband Christian, Frank IV and wife Laura, Dan Burns and wife Nicole, and Dusty-Lyn Burns; also grandchildren: Kelly, Scott, Tammy, Julie, Bobby, Sherry, Ricky, and their spouses; many great-grandchildren; and two very special ladies in his life, Blake and Natalie, whom he loved dearly.
Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, from 6-8 p.m. at Giberson Funeral Home, 40 Maple St., Madison. A Graveside Service will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at 11 a.m. in Forest Hill Cemetery, Park Street, Madison. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Giberson Funeral Home in Madison.