Robert V. Rourke, 88, passed away on January 1, 2022, at a Scarborough healthcare facility . He was born on April 28, 1933 in Melrose, MA, the son of Robert C. and Mildreth (Parkhurst) Rourke. Robert was a graduate of Lynnfield Center Primary, Wakefield High School and Huntington School in Boston, MA.
He worked for the US Forest Service in Wallace, ID from 1951 thru 1952 where he fought forest fires. Bob entered the U.S. Army in 1953 and served at Arlington Hall Station in Virginia with the National Security Agency until 1956. He married Jeanette Candage in 1954, his wife for 63 years.
Robert entered the University of Maine and graduated in 1959 with a B.S. in Agronomy. He then worked for Aroostook Potato Growers in Washburn, ME until 1963 when he returned to the University of Maine and received his M.S. of Agronomy in 1964. He worked for the University of Maine Agricultural and Experiment Station as a Soil Scientist in collaboration with the U.S.D.A. SCS until retirement in 1998.
During his university career, he travelled to Brazil, New Zealand, Malaysia and Japan as a soils advisor and member of soil taxonomy committees. He also worked as an agronomy consultant to the potato growers in Aroostook County, a soils consultant to various federal and state agencies, and a corporate consultant to various corporations conducting business or wishing to conduct business in the State of Maine.
In retirement, he enjoyed fishing in Maine, Labrador, Newfoundland and Alaska and spending time with his many friends in the Orono area. He spent many hours at the Veazie Salmon Club where he served as the Secretary and Treasurer for several years. In the winter months, he was an active member of the Pine Tree Snowmobile club.
Bob was predeceased by his wife and is survived by his one son, Robert C. Rourke and his wife Elaine of Hobe Sound, FL, one daughter, Tamara Beaulieu and her husband, John, of Westbrook, ME; four grandchildren: Robert W. Rourke of Little River, SC; Andrea Lynn Watson of Juno Beach, FL; Tara Johnston of Westbrook, ME; Patrick Beaulieu of Portland, ME; and eight great grandchildren who live in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Maine.
Graveside services at Morgan Bay Cemetery, Surry, will be announced in the spring. Gifts in his memory may be made to Aroostook County Action Program, 77 Main Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Rourke, please visit our flower store.
He worked for the US Forest Service in Wallace, ID from 1951 thru 1952 where he fought forest fires. Bob entered the U.S. Army in 1953 and served at Arlington Hall Station in Virginia with the National Security Agency until 1956. He married Jeanette Candage in 1954, his wife for 63 years.
Robert entered the University of Maine and graduated in 1959 with a B.S. in Agronomy. He then worked for Aroostook Potato Growers in Washburn, ME until 1963 when he returned to the University of Maine and received his M.S. of Agronomy in 1964. He worked for the University of Maine Agricultural and Experiment Station as a Soil Scientist in collaboration with the U.S.D.A. SCS until retirement in 1998.
During his university career, he travelled to Brazil, New Zealand, Malaysia and Japan as a soils advisor and member of soil taxonomy committees. He also worked as an agronomy consultant to the potato growers in Aroostook County, a soils consultant to various federal and state agencies, and a corporate consultant to various corporations conducting business or wishing to conduct business in the State of Maine.
In retirement, he enjoyed fishing in Maine, Labrador, Newfoundland and Alaska and spending time with his many friends in the Orono area. He spent many hours at the Veazie Salmon Club where he served as the Secretary and Treasurer for several years. In the winter months, he was an active member of the Pine Tree Snowmobile club.
Bob was predeceased by his wife and is survived by his one son, Robert C. Rourke and his wife Elaine of Hobe Sound, FL, one daughter, Tamara Beaulieu and her husband, John, of Westbrook, ME; four grandchildren: Robert W. Rourke of Little River, SC; Andrea Lynn Watson of Juno Beach, FL; Tara Johnston of Westbrook, ME; Patrick Beaulieu of Portland, ME; and eight great grandchildren who live in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Maine.
Graveside services at Morgan Bay Cemetery, Surry, will be announced in the spring. Gifts in his memory may be made to Aroostook County Action Program, 77 Main Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.
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