GORHAM- Nathan H. Acker was born on December 23, 1921 in Swansea, Massachusetts. He passed away on June 24, 2018. He was the second born son of Elric and Ethel Acker. Nathan attended a one-room school house through grade 8. As a high school student, Nathan excelled; leading to his acceptance as a college student in the academically competitive and prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. Nathan followed in the footsteps of his older brother; both having graduated first in their class at MIT. Following his graduation in 1943, Nathan Married Jannett Allard and shortly thereafter, joined the fight for American freedom as a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers. Nathan quickly distinguished himself as a valuable asset for the cause in the European theater and was advanced to the rank of 1st lieutenant. He was stationed in Great Britain and as part of the D Day Invasion was responsible for removing mines from the harbor in Cherbourg, France; forcing German troops to divert troops to Cherbourg when the beaches at Normandy were attacked by allied forces. Nathan’s family has always been proud of his military service and in particular his contribution to the Allied Forces hard won victory on D Day. Following the end of the war in Europe, Nathan returned to his beloved United States. Nathan was still enlisted in the Army and was awaiting his relocation to the Japanese theater. The war in Japan ended before he was shipped out. Subsequently, Nathan remained a commissioned officer in the Army through his 75th birthday; both as a consultant and strategic planner. Nathan and Jannett had four children; Elizabeth, Thomas, Nancy and Jonathan. The family lived 15 years in Rhode Island, but ultimately in 1960 moved to Gorham, Maine. Nathan and Jannett were active in their community. Nathan was employed by a specialty welding company in South Portland where he engineered a handling system to assist in pumping petroleum that would keep our country’s shorelines clean; technology that is still in use today. Nathan was always socially responsible. Indeed he was recognized in the local newspaper as a 90 year old for delivering 10,000 meals as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. He always made time to visit and comfort others in hospitals and nursing homes. He was devoted to his wife Jannett and visited her daily in the hospital for years before her passing. Nathan was also a highly spiritual man and served the First Parish Congregational Church in Gorham for 60 years; both as Head Usher and Deacon. Nathan had many hobbies and interests; including traveling, genealogy, gardening, and carpentry. Nathan, will be greatly missed by his family and community. He is survived by his four children.
A funeral service will be held at the First Congregational Church, 1 Church St., Gorham, on Saturday June 30th at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at North Gorham Cemetery.
Online condolence messages can be submitted at the Chad E. Poitras / Neal & York Funeral Home website, www.mainefuneral.com