Obituary for Carl M. Ilvonen SOUTH THOMASTON – Carl M. Ilvonen, 93, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, Sunday, October 14, 2018. Born in Rockland, July 10, 1925, he was the son of Uno and Hilma Hill Ilvonen. Educated locally, he attended Ash Point School and later Rockland High School.
Joining the U.S. Navy during World War II, Carl served as head of the Gunnery Crew aboard a Liberty Ship. Upon being honorably discharged, Carl returned to his beloved South Thomaston and started a road construction business. Together with his two brothers, he worked on roads in Maine and throughout New England.
He traded in his trucks and heavy equipment for a life on the water in 1964. In 1947 he married Elsie Rackliff. Blending their families they later welcomed four more children.
With Elsie as his sternman, Carl fished the waters off South Thomaston until he was 91 years old, hanging up his oils skins in 2016. An innovator in the lobster industry, he pioneered many methods that are standards today. His daughter remembers he was one of the first to use wire traps, a hydraulic hauler, and he designed the crank bait box.
Carl was also a mentor to many young fisherman coming up in the community. The South Thomaston community was an important part of Carl’s life and together with his neighbors, he began what is now the South Thomaston Volunteer Fire Department. Carl was an avid motorcycle enthusiast.
Along with his wife Elsie, he was a charter member of the Harley Owners Group and belonged to the Central Maine Harley H.O.G. Chapter. They were also members of the Dressers Association. Another favorite pastime was attending the Annual Atlantic Regional Rallies in the Maritime Provinces of Canada.
Carl remained active member of the motorcycle community, riding until he was 83 years old. The pair were also avid outdoors people, and enjoyed hunting, bagging many deer, moose and elk together. When not hunting, they could often be found riding the snowmobile trails in the winter.
He stopped riding in 2007 when his wife passed away. For the past several years, Carl has enjoyed the companionship of Maxine Stanley. Carl will be sadly missed by all who loved him.
Predeceased by his wife Elsie in 2007; a daughter Ruth Molloy; a brother Uno Ilvonen, and a sister Barbara Lindquist; Carl is survived by his companion Maxine Stanley of Rockport; his daughters, Frances Loring and her companion Frank Booker of Bangor, Rebecca ‘Becky’ Raheaume and her husband Larry of Buxton, Marie Ilvonen of South Thomaston, Audrey McClure and her husband Charlie of South Thomaston, Mary Beth Nolette and her husband Roland of Biddeford; a son Mark Ilvonen and his husband Bill Faulkner of San Francisco, CA; his brothers Richard Ilvonen, Kenneth Ilvonen and his wife Kathy all of Owls Head; his sisters, Mary Orne of Rockland, Elsa MacFarland of Dallas, TX; 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews, and a large loving extended family. A celebration of Carl’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. A reception will follow immediately at 104 Limerock.
Flowers are gratefully accepted, however those who wish, may make memorial donations to the Carl Ilvonen Scholarship Find, c/o Sue Snow, Oceanside High School, 400 Broadway, Rockland, Maine 04841. Printable Memorial Service Information When Saturday, October 27th, 2018 11:00am Location Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home Address 110 Limerock Street Rockland, ME Share on Facebook Driving Directions Alltel Report a map error Send Flowers Light Candle Reception Information When Saturday, October 27th, 2018 12:00pm – 2:00pm Location 104 Limerock Reception Center Address 104 Limerock Street Rockland, ME Share on Facebook Driving Directions Alltel Report a map error Send Flowers Light Candle Carl M. Ilvonen July 10, 1925 – October 14, 2018 Share this tribute Memorial Candles Lit for Carl M. Ilvonen | SEE ALL Light a Candle Funeral Details Condolences & Tributes Photos, Videos & Stories Send Flowers Obituary for Carl M. Ilvonen SOUTH THOMASTON – Carl M. Ilvonen, 93, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, Sunday, October 14, 2018. Born in Rockland, July 10, 1925, he was the son of Uno and Hilma Hill Ilvonen.
Educated locally, he attended Ash Point School and later Rockland High School. Joining the U.S. Navy during World War II, Carl served as head of the Gunnery Crew aboard a Liberty Ship. Upon being honorably discharged, Carl returned to his beloved South Thomaston and started a road construction business.
Together with his two brothers, he worked on roads in Maine and throughout New England. He traded in his trucks and heavy equipment for a life on the water in 1964. In 1947 he married Elsie Rackliff.
Blending their families they later welcomed four more children. With Elsie as his sternman, Carl fished the waters off South Thomaston until he was 91 years old, hanging up his oils skins in 2016. An innovator in the lobster industry, he pioneered many methods that are standards today.
His daughter remembers he was one of the first to use wire traps, a hydraulic hauler, and he designed the crank bait box. Carl was also a mentor to many young fisherman coming up in the community. The South Thomaston community was an important part of Carl’s life and together with his neighbors, he began what is now the South Thomaston Volunteer Fire Department.
Carl was an avid motorcycle enthusiast. Along with his wife Elsie, he was a charter member of the Harley Owners Group and belonged to the Central Maine Harley H.O.G. Chapter. They were also members of the Dressers Association.
Another favorite pastime was attending the Annual Atlantic Regional Rallies in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Carl remained active member of the motorcycle community, riding until he was 83 years old. The pair were also avid outdoors people, and enjoyed hunting, bagging many deer, moose and elk together.
When not hunting, they could often be found riding the snowmobile trails in the winter. He stopped riding in 2007 when his wife passed away. For the past several years, Carl has enjoyed the companionship of Maxine Stanley.
Carl will be sadly missed by all who loved him. Predeceased by his wife Elsie in 2007; a daughter Ruth Molloy; a brother Uno Ilvonen, and a sister Barbara Lindquist; Carl is survived by his companion Maxine Stanley of Rockport; his daughters, Frances Loring and her companion Frank Booker of Bangor, Rebecca ‘Becky’ Raheaume and her husband Larry of Buxton, Marie Ilvonen of South Thomaston, Audrey McClure and her husband Charlie of South Thomaston, Mary Beth Nolette and her husband Roland of Biddeford; a son Mark Ilvonen and his husband Bill Faulkner of San Francisco, CA; his brothers Richard Ilvonen, Kenneth Ilvonen and his wife Kathy all of Owls Head; his sisters, Mary Orne of Rockland, Elsa MacFarland of Dallas, TX; 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews, and a large loving extended family. A celebration of Carl’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.
A reception will follow immediately at 104 Limerock. Flowers are gratefully accepted, however those who wish, may make memorial donations to the Carl Ilvonen Scholarship Find, c/o Sue Snow, Oceanside High School, 400 Broadway, Rockland, Maine 04841. Printable Memorial Service Information When Saturday, October 27th, 2018 11:00am Location Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home Address 110 Limerock Street Rockland, ME Share on Facebook Driving Directions Alltel Report a map error Send Flowers Light Candle Reception Information When Saturday, October 27th, 2018 12:00pm – 2:00pm Location 104 Limerock Reception Center Address 104 Limerock Street Rockland, ME Share on Facebook Driving Directions Alltel Report a map error Send Flowers Light Candle Send flowers to the family Choose from beautiful standing, table and basket arrangements.
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