Obituary of Eric Eggen

Eric “Herb” Eggen, 57, passed away peacefully at home on January 15, 2012 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on July 24, 1954 at home, the sixth of eight children to Gertrude and Arvid Eggen of Liberty. Herb graduated from Mt. View High School in 1972. He worked many jobs throughout his life, from being on the pick up crew at Penobscot Poultry in Belfast to crushing cars and hauling wood for Dave’s World. He also worked many years driving pulp truck for Lawrence Brooks. Farming was a lifelong passion of Herb’s. From a very young age, he worked for the Millay family at their farm in Liberty. He thought of them as his second family and was proud to have earned his nickname “Herb” from George. Over the last couple of years, he passed on the knowledge of taking care of “his” barn to his sidekick Cole. Herb often talked of his softball days playing for the Six Packers. He enjoyed ice fishing on Lake St. George. His favorite past time was hunting. He spent all year trying to figure out just how he was going to take down “Charlie Horns”. He was definitely a MacGyver of sorts and could always make something out of nothing. He always said he could put Wile E. Coyote to shame. He really loved watching his westerns, no matter how many times he had seen them. He liked to listen to his scanner as well as old time country music. He often took rides “around the block” and from time to time, he took his grandsons whale watching. Herb took a lot of pride cutting firewood with his son, Ralphy. He was very well known for his one-liners, you never knew what he was going to say next. Herb was predeceased by his parents, his brother Richard, nephew Cal, and brother-in-law Wayne. He is survived by his children: Bobbie Jo Denman and her husband Jim of Appleton; Eric Eggen and his fiancé Jana Galkowski of Lincolnville; Becky Jo Eggen of Rockport; and Billie Jo Philbrook and her husband Larry of Lincolnville; his grandchildren Billy-Ray, Dylan, Caden, Hana, Stella; his first great-grandson Khyver, due to be born this April; his siblings; Susan Littlefield and her husband Jimmy of Waldo; Sandra St. Clair and her husband David, of Liberty; Barbara St. Clair of Montville; Deborah Libby and her husband David; and Tim Eggen all of Liberty; and his brother and best friend Fred Eggen and his wife Roxanne, also of Liberty; as well as many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his beloved dog Shorty and his cats Tiger and Rif-Raf. The family wishes to express sincere thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Connelly and “his” nurses at the Oncology Dept and Dr. Randall Helmholz of WCGH, his “meals on wheels” Kristen, all of the friends and relatives whose visits meant so much to him, and his special caregiver Sandra ‘Bomber’ Edgecomb, whom he looked forward to seeing every night and was at his side until the very end. A celebration of Herb’s life will be held at the Union Masonic Lodge located at 149 Sennebec Road in Union on Sunday January 22, 2012 at 12 Noon. Any inquiries call: 542-9657. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made out to the American Cancer Society c/o Billie Jo Philbrook 124 Marriner Drive Lincolnville, Maine 04849. All donations will support his daughter’s Relay for Life team Hoofin it for Herbie.