Robert McDonald obituary

Robert “Pops” McDonald
1925-2017

SKOWHEGAN — Robert “Pops” MacDonald died on Sept. 8, 2017, at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, with his loving family by his side.
He was born in Skowhegan on Oct. 6, 1925, the son of Neil and Clara (Michaud) MacDonald.
Bob attended Skowhegan High School and enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1943. He fought in the South Pacific in Guadalcanal, lwo jima, and other islands. He obtained the rank of corporal and was honorably discharged in May 1946.

Bob began his eight-decade work history in shoe manufacturing in 1947 as a hand sewer at Norwock Shoe in Skowhegan. In 1951 Bob got his first management job as the supervisor in the Handsewing Department at Skow Moc. In just six months, Bob was promoted to plant manager of the entire factory at the age of 26. In 1958, Bob went to work for Harold Alfond as plant manager of Norwock Shoe. In 1962, he returned as plant manager of Medwed Footwear, the old Skow Moc.
In 1972, Bob moved to Puerto Rico to be the plant manager of Lu-Ben Shoe. While Bob was there, it was bought by Florsheim Shoe. In 1979 Bob was hired by Stride Rite Shoe as vice president in charge of all the companies shoe factories. He moved to Hati to increase production in the firm’s hand-sewn shoe factory. Under Bob’s guidance and training, the factory grew to a production of over 17,000 pairs a day.
In 1986, Bob’s son Bruce and the Tatsuno family started a hand-sewn shoe factory in Lewiston., Eastbrook Corp.
In 1991, he and his son started MacDonald Shoe in Skowhegan. The company grew to 90 employees and produced footwear for companies such as L.L. Bean, Cabela’s, Hitchcock Shoes, Eddie Bauer, Land’s End, and H.S.Trask.
In 2005, Bob worked with his son at US MedSys in Wilton, manufacturing shoes for those with diabetes. From 2006 to 2017, he finished his long career with his son Bruce and his grandson Todd at Pine Tree Orthopedic Lab in Livermore Falls.
Bob was instrumental in setting up this orthopedic lab and laying out the factory, and doing all the pattern work for custom leather AFOs and the custom shoe division. He had his hand in manufacturing more than 35,000 custom AFOs for customers throughout the United States. These custom products enable people to keep walking, and Bob took pride in knowing how many lives he had helped in a positive way.
Bob also hand-cut thousands of custom shoes. He was working on modernizing the custom shoe division into using a computerized cutting machine at the time of his death.
After he was discharged from the U.S. Marines, Bob married the love of his life, Marjorie Brooks, and they shared 67 precious years of marriage together In 1950, he became the proud father of twins Bruce and Carol.
Bob was truly a family man, and his family always came first. Bob always attended all the activities that his children were involved in school and encouraged them to never give up in life.
As his family grew with Carol’s children Mark and Jodi and Bruce’s children Melissa, Derek, and Todd, he was deeply involved and very active in their lives. All his grandchildren have many happy memories of their time spent with him, especially at his home on Oak Pond. God blessed Bob with six great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Kaden Salley, Ethan Clement, Tucker MacDonald, Grace and Ella MacDonald.
Bob loved sports and watching Alyssa play field hockey and tennis, and Kaden play football and wrestle. Papa truly was their number one fan. He loved playing with Grace, Ella, and Ethan.
Bob was a loving son who was so proud that he could to take care of his parents Neil and Clara, who lived with him for 25 years.
Bob was such a benevolent and kind man his entire life. He always considered the people that worked with him as his family. If someone needed help, whether it was labor or money he was there for them. Bob was always a great motivator and one of his favorite sayings that he used was “everyone needs two things in life at times, a kick in the butt and a pat on the back and they are both close to each other.”
If the old saying that you judge a man in his life by the amount of friends he has, not by the amount of money he has, then Bob was a very rich man.
Bob was predeceased by his loving wife, Marge; his father and mother, Neil and Clara MacDonald; sisters Hazel Beaulieu, Leona, Eva Paddock and husband, Ken, Mary Plourde and husband, Robert, Dora Gagnon and husband, Simon; brothers Frank MacDonald and wife, Nina, Ronald MacDonald and Eric MacDonald.
He is survived by his children, Bruce and wife, Lorraine, of Skowhegan, Carol and husband, Danny Clement, of Skowhegan; five grandchildren, Mark Clement and wife, Joyce, of Cornville, Jodi Salley and Ryan Porter, of Skowhegan, Melissa Bourgoin and husband, Robert, of Greene, Derek MacDonald and wife, Stephanie, of Livermore Falls, Todd MacDonald and wife, Melissa, of Monmouth. Six great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Kaden Salley, Ethan Clement, Grace and Ella MacDonald, Tucker MacDonald; brothers Ray MacDonald of Skowhegan, Clarence MacDonald and wife, Sheila, of Topsham, and Donald MacDonald and wife, Charlene, of Skowhegan; along with several nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Bob.
The family would like to thank Dr. Prokop and staff, Dr. Lambke and wife, Amber, all the nurses whot cared for our dad, as well as the Rev. Mark Tanner’s continued love and support, and many special friends whose company he enjoyed each and every day.
A celebration of Bob’s life was held in Skowhegan, followed by graveside service at Southside Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Federated Church, P.O. Box 504, Skowhegan, ME 04976. Online condolences may be expressed at www.msobits@centralmaine.com.
Arrangements were under the direction and care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan.