AUBURN — Henry R. “Hank” Bernier Jr., 87, of Lewiston, died early Thursday morning, Jan. 11, at the Hospice House of Androscoggin with his loving family by his side.
He was born in Lewiston on April 25, 1930, the son of the late Henry R. Sr. and Carmen (Dionne) Bernier and had been a resident of this community all of his life.
He was educated in Lewiston schools.
He was a U.S. Army veteran having served his country in the Korean Conflict.
He was married to the former Monique D. Plourde on Sept. 21, 1955; she died June 4, 2017.
He was employed as a bus driver for LA Transit and then was employed as a sales manager for Humpty Dumpty until retiring from there. He worked as a reserve deputy for the Androscoggin Sheriff’s Office serving the towns of Sabattus, Leeds and Greene. He owned and operated a radio repair shop and started ACE Detective and Security Agency retiring from ACE in 1984 and also owned thoroughbred race horses, racing these horses from Maine to South Carolina. He worked in the family businesses which included the Basket Shed, Benoit’s Bakery and was instrumental in selling apples at Benoit’s Orchard. He worked at the Central Maine Youth Center where he managed and maintained the ice driving the Zamboni.
He was the former chairman of the Androscoggin County Commission and served the city of Lewiston as an alderman in Ward 2.
Henry was instrumental in starting Holy Family Boosters and was a hockey coach for the bantam Holy Family hockey team for many years.
He was a member of the American Legion in Sabattus.
Henry and his wife, Monique, enjoyed spending time at their lake cottage on Sabattus Lake where he started the Sabattus Lake Association.
He is survived by two daughters, Denise Bowie and her husband Michael of Lisbon Falls and Renee Bernier of Lewiston; his twin sisters Jacqueline Tetu of Winter Haven, Florida, and Pauline Perham of Lewiston; his partner in crime and only grandson, Nicholas Benoit, of Lewiston; and a niece and nephew, Julie Plourde of Tampa, Florida, and David Plourde of Lewiston.
Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.
Norman R. “Hank” Bernier Jr.
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