Gabriel V. Dostie

Corp. E4 Gabriel V. Dostie
1932 - 2015
SIDNEY - Gabriel V. Dostie passed away on July 31, 2015, at Augusta Center for Health & Rehabilitation. He was born in Augusta on Sept. 15, 1932, the youngest son of Alonzo and Ida (Theriault) Dostie. He attended schools in Augusta.
He was a dairy and poultry farmer for over 40 years.
He served in the U.S. Army 5th Cavalry Regiment Infantry from Feb. 5, 1953 to 1955. He was overseas during the Korean conflict.
When he returned home he thought that he might join the Merchant Marines with some of his buddies, but he also wanted to get back to farming. He approached his brothers to see if they would join him in a partnership and buy out his family farm and build it up so they could make a living and make it work. They did buy the farm and built 300 foot barns and got 350 dairy cows. They went to Vermont to see the operations of the state of the art equipment and liked that it was easier and faster than by hand. They built a new milking parlor and invested in this modern machinery. They had the biggest and first state of the art farm in Maine. They all did their best with alot of work and time and money to make this happen. They built huge barns to raise 40,000 chickens for Lipman Poultry for a number of years also. All at the same time.
Gabe loved to hunt deer and partridge, and like fishing when he could get some time.
He was a private person and didn't express much how he cared for those he loved, but showed how he felt by the thing he did for them, and make by his hands woodworking, making lamps, tables and stands, shelves, and a crib, cradle and rocking chairs, and toy boxes for his grandchildren.
Gabe was a kind and caring person with a big heart and would help anyone that needed it when they could use a helping hand. He would put aside his own work to help others. He loved to make maple syrup from sap from his own trees and also taffy. He loved to have vegetable gardens and would give away some to friends, neighbors, and family. He did construction also. He worked hard all his life and was proud of what he accomplished. He will be missed by many.
Gabe leaves behind his companion and wife, Donna, of 24 years; and her children whom he loved as his own and their children as his grandchildren. They were very special to him and he was to all of them. Gabe lost his mother-in-law on April 29, this year. He leaves behind these children, Tammy Mullen and family of Oakland, Cheryl Wentworth and family of Sidney, Shawn Giroux and family of Benton; special grandson Joshua whom he thought alot about, granddaughter Rachael thought the world of, other granddaughters Emma and Charlotte, who were very close to him also, and Monique, Ariel, and Victoria, whom he loved also. Gabe had many friends and was liked by those who knew him. He leaves behind a special friend he knew most of his life, Donald Duplessis and his family of Augusta. They used to go to the farm with their children when he was farming. He also leaves his dear friend Robert Cormier and wife Joan of Ocala, Fla. and Augusta. He has many nieces and nephews; cousins; and special niece Brenda whom he always thought alot of. He leaves behind his brother-in-law Max and family of Winslow, sister-in-law Darlene of Sidney and their family, Jean of Benton and family, Judy of Sidney and family; special neighbor Pam Chessman and husband Chet, who were a great help taking care of Gabe also at the VA Hospital where Pam worked.
Special thanks to those who took care of him and went out of their way to do things for him at Augusta Rehab this past year - Karen on first shift, Lora, Jill and Karen on second shift, April, Ulissa, nurses Gail, Judy, Susie Q., and others; also, Hospice these last few months, Isic, Jason, and Theresa.
At Gabe's request, he wanted to have a private military service at the Veteran's Chapel and Cemetary. Thanks to Father Paul Markee for his services and prayers. Gabe had an honorable military service that he wanted and would be proud.