Douglass R Genthner

Douglass Ralph Genthner Obituary March 5, 1929 to February 2, 2023 Douglass Ralph Genthner died on February 2, 2023 at Brentwood Nursing Facility in Yarmouth, leaving this earth for his permanent home in heaven with God. Douglass was born in Portland on March 5, 1929 to Ralph Arthur Genthner and Clara Davis Genthner. He was brought up in Gorham where his family raised springer spaniels. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Army and was part of the peacekeeping troops in Japan, following the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He was one of the original founders of the Dog House in Portland, a pet store with locations at various times in Portland, Auburn and South Portland. On June 20, 1959 he married Kathryn Althea Wakefield of South Portland, a widow who had two sons from a previous marriage. Even though he never graduated from high school because he needed to quit to support his family, he was a successful businessman throughout his life. To supplement his education, he spent the rest of his life pursing knowledge on his own and became a prolific reader and a self-educated man. He owned a pet store and boarding and grooming kennels in Saco – Saco Petland and Canine Inn Pet Motel and a boarding/grooming kennel in Windham -Country Squire Pet Motel. He also owned various grooming shops and a grooming school in Windham. He was a social butterfly and active in many churches in southern Maine. He loved Star Trek, cooking, gardening, architecture, cats, cars, movies, traveling, fishing, the ocean, solar energy and studied nutrition and alternative medicine extensively. He was a member of the North Congregational Church in Buxton. His faith was the center of his life. In 1964 when Billy Graham preached in Portland at City Hall auditorium, he and his younger stepson Bruce Wakefield answered an altar call for salvation. He loved to garden and was always reading up on ways to produce the largest tomatoes, squash and cukes with the highest yields. He was a life-long Democrat and embracing of all people, all backgrounds and races. He had unusual compassion for the poor and marginalized. His best man at his wedding in 1959 was gay. His daughter Cathy remembers yearly trips to Boston to the Science museum followed by side-trips to the slums, to show his daughter how impoverished people lived in the city. He was a cancer survivor. Most likely, his thyroid cancer came from the nuclear bomb radiation he was exposed to while stationed in Japan. Following his retirement from the pet business he lived at the Pines in Ocean Park for over 15 years where he made many friends. He is known for hosting movie night because of his personal extensive and eclectic selection of movies. Doug is also known as the walker as he was often seen walking on Temple Avenue in Ocean Park, on his way to the Atlantic Ocean. He will be missed by his beloved female tabby Mary who would sleep on his lap as he watched a movie, cooking show or the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. He drove his car until the age of 90. He was predeceased by his wife Kathryn in 1998, two brothers, Richard and Ted Genthner, and his step-son Bruce Wakefield in July 2022. Surviving him are daughter Rev. Dr. Cathy Genthner of Gorham and his grandson and his wife, Pastor Forrest and Molly Genthner of Medford, Maine; his step son and his wife, David and Melinda Wakefield of Portland and their children. A public graveside and committal service will be held at 10 am Saturday February 11 at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland with Pastor Forrest Genthner of the Essex Street Baptist Church in Bangor officiating. A reception will follow at 11 a.m. in the fellowship hall of the North Congregational Church on Church Hill Road in Buxton. Douglass’s family would like to thank most of all, Michelle Carroll of Old Orchard Beach, his personal caregiver who helped him enjoy over two years of independent living at the Pines. She cared for him like family and now, she is part of our family. The family is also grateful to the love and compassion given by Brentwood Nursing Facility in Yarmouth and Compassus Hospice in Scarborough. In lieu of flowers, donations can be given in Doug’s memory to the : North Congregational Church 22 Church Hill Road Buxton, Maine 04093

Douglass R Genthner

March 5, 1929 - February 2, 2023

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