1954 – 2015

LEWISTON — Charles R. Niskanen Jr., 60, of Auburn died Wednesday, July 15, at Central Maine Medical Center.

He was born in Lewiston, Sept. 15, 1954, the son of Charles and Audrey Bartlett Niskanen Sr. He attended schools in Norway and graduated from Oxford Hills High School in 1973. He worked at the General Electric plant in Auburn and Country Kitchen in Lewiston before joining the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at Plattsburgh Air Force Base in New York.

While in the Air Force, he got to travel to the West Coast if there was a “hop” plane going to California. While there, he visited two aunts and their families and his uncle, Marchus Niskanen (his father’s brother) in the northern part of the state. While in school, he was a paperboy for the Advertiser-Democrat in Norway.

He loved his grandparents, family camp, boating, fishing, swimming and towing his younger brother, Mark, on waterskis.

He is survived by his mother, Audrey; his brother, Mark and his wife, Debbie; two nephews, Brent and Bryan Niskanen; a niece, Melanie Niskanen-Jenkins and her husband, Roy; two great-nephews, Caleb Niskanen and Brody Jenkins; a great-niece, Kaylee Niskanen; two aunts, Mary McKenny-Pedigo, a nurse, and her family of Sacramento, Calif., and Joan McKenny- Paul and her family of Dallas, Ore.

He was predeceased by his father, Charles Sr., who died Dec. 14, 2014; and grandparents, Eugene and Margaret Bartlett of Auburn.

Charlie will surely be missed. He was a wonderful son, brother, Christian and friend to all.

Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.