Walter (Bill) D. Brown Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Walter (Bill) D. Brown Sr, of Standish, passed away on January 18, 2022 at the age of 65, at Maine Medical Center. He was born on June 29, 1956 in Kennebunk, Maine. Bill grew up in Steep Falls, while bouncing around to other towns in the foster care system. He was the youngest of five siblings, all placed into the system at young ages. He often talked about how little he was, compared to the fence at the orphanage where he was placed. He always dreamed of planning his escape and jumping over that big fence to see what life would be like on the other side. After jumping around to many foster homes he joined the air force as soon as he became of age, in his words “to get off the state.” Bill was honorably discharged not long after. Though Bill and his siblings went through much hardship and separation early in life, they all persevered and grew from the experiences life dealt them. The struggles of life early on shaped Bill to be the loving, caring and hardworking husband, father, and friend that he will be remembered as today. Bill worked for many years as a talented contractor. His specialty was hanging sheetrock, but he truly mastered every aspect of the job. In his free time he loved being outdoors every chance he was given. He took special interest in snowmobiling, motorcycles, hunting, and even cooking for his family. Because of his illness he later in life enjoyed sitting on his porch, all hours of the day enjoying a good ice cream or two. Bill met his future wife, Nancy Coppersmith, through her four older brothers. Bill went into the Fishermen’s Net (a business of the Coppersmith family) in mind of asking her out for a date. Bill was too nervous to ask in front of her family, so he left. As he was driving away he gave her a call. They started dating in June of 1990, he proposed in September of 1991, and the two married in December of 1991. They shared 30 years of marriage together this past December. The two loved to travel together from Florida to the Bahamas and all other parts of the United States. They were always singing together and putting on rock concerts in the car. With the two of them there were always many laughs shared. Nancy was the love of his life. The one thing Bill excelled at in life, more than his work, was being a father. The love and admiration that he had for his son, Walter Jr, was unmatched. From the time Walter Jr could walk, Bill had him on most work sites with him. You would most likely find the two together on an excavator or a roof. When one would ask who the young boy was Bill would grin ear to ear and say “that’s my boy.” Bill and Walter Jr also shared many hobbies together. Riding dirt bikes, go-carts, and teaching him all he knew about being a good hunter and a good man. Bill was looking forward to the addition to the family his daughter-in-law to be, Taylor. He always enjoyed hearing about her baking business as well as being the first to sample many of her treats. The day of Bill’s 50th birthday is when his health started to decline. He was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, neuropathy in his legs and feet, along with diabetes. The list continued with congestive heart failure and kidney disease. In 2017 Bill went into Cardiac arrest. He was unresponsive for 25 minutes, the amount of time it took for them to get to Maine Medical Center. He spent days in intensive care on a ventilator, unable to breath on his own. Nancy and Walter Jr had to make the sudden decision, that no one wants to make, to keep Bill alive. The doctors were sure the only way out of this was to put a tracheotomy in. But like all other things in life, Bill persevered and came out of intensive care without the tracheotomy. He came home after many days in rehab reteaching himself how to walk, talk, even how to hold a spoon up to his mouth to feed himself. He was even able to get himself off of kidney dialysis, which doctors said he would never live without. In the last year of his life he spent many trips back and fourth from the hospital, rehabilitation, to home. Added to the long list of diagnoses, he learned he had Parkinson’s Disease. It was becoming increasingly harder for him to get around, often falling. There was one point when Nancy thought they would have to start having the Standish Fire/EMS over for holidays because they were there so often. They always came and treated him with the utmost dignity, I am so thankful for them. Over the years he had the best care team behind him. From doctors, to many family members and friends. To name a few: PCP Jill Kerekes MD, Michael Case PA, and their team at Maine Medical Partners in Windham. The Heart Failure team at Maine Cardiology. Friends Bob and Jeanne Webber, brother-in-law Bob Coppersmith, father-in-law Bernie Coppersmith, and dear friend Tom Villacci. All ready to lend a hand taking him to his appointments as well as back and fourth to dialysis within the last few weeks of his life. Bill was the type of man who would get things done. If you called him for something, he was there. If he wasn’t able to do it himself, he would pay his workers to be there in his place. When his mother-in-law Edith Coppersmith became ill after her stroke in 2019 he visited her at Ledgewood Manor everyday he could. They would sit together and chat, eat lunch, and partake in activities together. He was always there for anyone, at any point in time, no matter where or when. Nancy always tried to make him laugh, usually with her horrible singing and dancing. She would hold up her imaginary microphone up to him when it was his turn to sing, sometimes he’d do it, sometimes he’d just smile. The last dialysis trip home Nancy was singing away and he wasn’t having any part of the concert. She asked him if she was driving him crazy or scaring him with my dancing while driving. His response was “I just love to see you happy and smiling.” Walter Sr is survived by his wife, Nancy; son, Walter Jr., and his fiancé Taylor Whitcomb; Step children, Scotty James (Caryn) Melanie Bucknam (Brian); siblings, David Brown, Donna Berthiaume (Al) Michael Brown (Barbara) and sister Debbie Hale (Jeff). Mother in law he thought the world of Edith Coppersmith, Father in law Bernie Coppersmith, brothers in law Bill Coppersmith (Mary Ann), Bob Coppersmith (Paula), David Coppersmith (Karen), predeceased by his brother in law Mike Coppersmith. Also his wife’s sidekick who was like a sister in law Jamie (Potter) Haley and husband Rick. Many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his grandpup Harley who he would quite often sneak food to and watch TV with. A cat named Precious who he had a love/hate relationship with. He is predeceased by his mother and father. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Ledgewood Manor Activities Committee in Windham, Maine. Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, January 29 from 11:00am to 1:00pm with a Funeral Service starting at 1:00pm at Dolby, Blais & Segee Funeral Home, 434 River Rd., Windham.

Walter (Bill) D. Brown

June 29, 1956 - January 18, 2022