Francis Gramlich Obituary (1920 - 2006)

READFIELD - Francis James Gramlich, 85, of Readfield, passed on peacefully in his sleep to his favorite hunting ground on Sunday, April 16, 2006, at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta. He was born July 25, 1920, in New York, the son of Frank and Florence (Gaultain) Gramlich. He enlisted in the Army in 1938 and fought in World War II. He worked his way through the ranks, receiving a battlefield commission and eventually retiring after more than 20 years of service and attaining the rank of major. Maj. Gramlich fought at the Battle of the Bulge, Remagen Bridge, the Ruhr Pocket and the Belgian Forragers, all as part of the 370th Field Artillery, 99th Infantry Division, known as the 'Battle Babies' of World War II. He also served during the Korean conflict. After his military service, Frank earned his master's degree in wildlife management from the University of Maine. He then went to work as a state supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, headquartered in Augusta. During his tenure as state supervisor, Frank worked tirelessly for the protection, reintroduction and control of Maine's wildlife. He, along with the USFWS, was instrumental in bringing back the bald eagle rom the brink of extinction to its current frequent sightings in Maine. Frank was also instrumental in the repopulation of terns and puffins to the offshore islands of Maine by eradicating depredating cormorants and gulls. He understood wildlife well and took a proactive role in its management. He took his second service career as seriously, or even more so, than his first. He retired in August of 1982. Mr. Gramlich was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Barbara Gramlich. He is survived by his wife, Hildegard (Rogenmoser) Gramlich; his sons, Theodore F. Gramlich and his wife, Janine, of Cutler, Robert Gramlich and his wife, Linda, of Chesterville, Mike J. Gramlich and his wife, Susan, of East Holden and Francis James Gramlich Jr. and his wife, Diane, of Wade; his daughters, Dorothy L. McDonald and her husband, George, of Winthrop and Elisabeth Isbister and her husband, David, of Albion; his sisters, Louise Starita, of Cape Canaveral, Fla., and Ruth Weihs and her husband, Don, of Bremerton, Wash.; his grandchildren, Seth, Tabbitha and Benjamin Gramlich, Eric and Jessica Gramlich, Keith, Mark and Diana McDonald, William, Stewart and Nicholas Gramlich, Manuel Ortega and Carla Turner; and his great-grandchildren, Destiny Faith Gramlich, Madison Hope Gramlich, Eden and Thomas Turner. Relatives and friends may visit 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta, where a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Ducks Unlimited, c/o Bill Brown Holmes Brook Road, Winthrop, ME 04364.