Robert Dean Sherman

Island Falls - Robert Dean Sherman, 86, passed away on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at his home in Island Falls, Maine, after battling cancer. Bob fell asleep in the Lord with his beloved family surrounding him.
Bob was born on June 6, 1937, in Oakfield, Maine. He was the second child of Ralph and Mae Sherman of Oakfield. Bob graduated from Oakfield High School in 1955 and went to work for Leonard Lougee as a mechanic at Lougee Chevrolet in Island Falls. He eventually bought the automotive service business and later the Chevrolet dealership, establishing a thriving business for many years, Sherman's Chevrolet, Inc.
Bob met the love of his life, Jeanette Cameron after graduating High School when he went on a double date with his friend and neighbor. They married on November 12, 1960.
Bob and Jeanette had one biological daughter, Deborah and "adopted" Paula, Terry and Albert.
Bob "Bobby" was known as "Mr. Fixit" to his friends and community because he could fix anything. He served as a selectman in Island Falls, volunteered as an ambulance driver, served the community as a tow truck driver and maintained the yards of his neighbors over the years by plowing and mowing when needed. After selling his dealership in 1990, he bought a tractor trailer doing over the road trucking, and later hauled pulp and transported milk. He could always be found in or around his garage fixing and maintaining his equipment as well as helping out friends, family and neighbors with their projects. He attended Fryeburg Fair yearly, first with his father, uncles and brothers, then with brothers and their boys and Terry, then with his wife, daughters and their families. It became a family tradition to watch the horse, oxen and truck pulls.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette; parents, Ralph and Mae; brothers, Bill, Carl and Phil.
Bob is survived by his sister, Connie (Kerry) Bartlett; daughters, Debbie (Johnny) Groda and Paula (Stan) Hartin; and sons, Terry Rickards, Al (Faith) Rickards, David (Becky) Dearborn and their families, Jonathan and Elizabeth Groda, Courtney and Josh James (Regan, Jonah, Charlie), Brianna and Jimmie Dale (Andrew, Tucker, Sylas), Chelsea and Jared Manasco (Oliver, Samuel), Natalie and Chloe Rickards, Mike and Steven Dearborn; as well as Lyndon and Stacy Rickards (Taylor, Olivia, Garrett, Claire), Dale Rickards (Kayla, Eden, Connor, Cooper); and sisters-in-law, Linda Wing, Katie Sherman and Sandra (Alan) Duff.
Funeral services will be held at RIP Museum in Island Falls, Maine, on Wednesday, January 17, 2024; visitation will begin at noon followed by services at 2 p.m. Graveside service will be in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Oakfield Seventh-Day Adventist church to support To Cry For Grace (or online at tocryforgrace.com) his granddaughter's mission in Africa. To share condolences and memories please visit bowersfuneral.com.