SOUTH PORTLAND — Robert Bachand, 89, of the Maine Veterans’ Home, Augusta, and formerly of South Portland, died peacefully on Aug. 23, surrounded by his family.

Bachand was born in Springvale on Oct. 30, 1924, the son of Joseph and Malvina (Rousin) Bachand. He attended local schools. In 1942, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and later took part in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. He received an honorable discharge from the Marines in 1945.

After returning home to Sanford, he worked for the Prudential Insurance Co., the Coca-Cola Co. and, beginning in 1950, the sales department of John J. Nissen Baking Co. After 30 years with Nissen, he retired as a sales manager.

Bachand was an active Elks member, and was a Past Exalted Ruler of the Sanford and Augusta lodges of Elks. He was also a Past District Deputy of the Grand Lodge of Elks.

In 1946, he married Constance Richard of Sanford, and the couple raised five children. She predeceased him in 1990. In 1992, he married Ubaldine Loranger of Portland, and their blended family included 10 children and many grandchildren. She died in 2008.

Bachand enjoyed hand-braiding rugs for his many relatives, and playing cards with family and friends.

He was predeceased by Richard Loranger, of Portland.

He is survived by his two daughters, Charlene and husband, Bob Reed, of Canada, and Monique and husband, Steve Frank, of Manchester; three sons, Barry and wife, Debbie, of Rome, Stephen and wife, Deb, of Windham, and Craig and wife, Sue, of Casco; four stepchildren, Marc Loranger and wife, Patti, of Livermore, California, Robert and wife, Deborah, of Windham, Francis and wife, Nancy, of Portland, and Justin and wife, Lynn, of Portland.

He also leaves 13 grandchildren: Sabrina Federico, of Westbrook, Robert Bachand of Salisbury, North Carolina, Eric Bachand of Rome, Megan Frank, of New Haven, Connecticut, Jeff Frank, of Sparks, Maryland, Adam Loranger, of Portland, Jason Loranger, of Huntington Beach, California, Griffen and Elisabeth Loranger, of Portland, Nathan and Jacob Loranger, of Portland, and Danielle and Patrick Loranger, of Livermore, California.

He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Florence Bachand, of Brunswick, and a brother-in-law, Gerard Vaillaincourt, of Berwick.

The Bachand family would like to thank the staff of the Maine Veterans’ Home of Augusta for their loving and dedicated care.

Visiting hours were held Aug. 27 at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, with a Mass of Christian burial scheduled for 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 28, at Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road, South Portland. Interment was to follow at St. Ignatius Cemetery, Sanford.

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