SHAWMUT—Steven Stanley Gogan, 65, passed away on Tuesday, December 27th with his wife by his side and family surrounding them. Steve was born in Waterville on September 15, 1957, to Gene Gogan and Gwendeth (Pelkey) Gogan. He had a special relationship with his grandfather, Stanley Pelkey and viewed him as his father figure, mentor, and hero. Steve married his high school sweetheart, Theresa (Terri) Kivlin on September 19, 1975. They were blessed to have a 47-year marriage and were each other's favorite person in the whole world. They raised two beautiful children together. Steve attended Messalonskee High School in Oakland, Maine and graduated in 1975. He was employed as an iron worker, shipbuilder, and supervisor over the years; about 20 of those years at Bath Iron Works. He was a talented craftsman with steel. He designed, welded, and finished several wood stoves, spiral staircases, and even a steel sculpture. Steve was a man of few words and a heart of gold. He was proud of his children and grandchildren, dedicated to his family, and would do anything he could for them. Animals of all kinds held a special place in Steve's heart. He loved observing wild birds and animals and had a variety of pets over the years, including goats, chickens, game birds, and cats. His most beloved pets were his horses (Stanley, Mims, Gabby, and Bella) and the many dogs he had throughout his life including his most recent canine companions, Oakley and Stash. He loved nature in general and enjoyed working in his yard. He planted berry bushes and grapes, tapped his maple trees, and made his own maple syrup. He loved music, especially classic rock, and enjoyed playing the guitar. His hobbies included camping, hiking, fly fishing, and fly tying. He fell in love with Baxter State Park on his first visit there in the mid-1980's. He visited the park multiple times each season for many years, creating cherished memories with family and friends. His last trip to Baxter was on Father's Day in 2022, when he and his wife drove from the south entrance of the park to the north entrance, stopping at several sites along the way to reminisce. He was predeceased by his mother, Gwendeth (Pelkey) Colson, his biological father, and his grandparents, Stanley and Annis Pelkey, and his beloved daughter-in-law Kylie Lyn Baker. He is survived by his loving, devoted wife of 47 years, Theresa (Kivlin) Gogan; his son Jason Gogan of Waterville, daughter Jessica Gogan Edwards and her husband Timothy Edwards of Jefferson, whom he thought of as a second son. He had many cherished grandchildren, who referred to him as "Pa", the name given to him by his two oldest grandchildren, Gavin and Caleb, when they were learning to talk and could not pronounce Grandpa. His grandchildren include Jason's children, Gavin and his wife Mashilla, Jasmine, and Kylie's children Hannah and Phil. His daughter Jessica and son-in-law Tim's children include Caleb, Timietheus and wife Shelby, Amiyah, Ezekiel, Benjamin, Beau, Molly, Malachi (Cobra), Israel (Biggie), and JuJu. "Grandchildren-in-heart" include Jeremy and Samantha. He also had several great grandchildren. Steve was the oldest of five children and is survived by his siblings Victoria (Gogan) Lee, Kip Manson, Scott Manson, and Todd Manson, as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He will be greatly missed by all. His family would like to thank the caring staff of Maine General Hospice and Maine General Medical Center. Steve's wife especially wishes to express her sincere and heartfelt appreciation to all the family members and friends who put their own lives on hold and spent countless hours assisting her with his care those last couple weeks, allowing her to honor his wish to stay at home as his health declined, almost until the very end. Their amazing support continued at the hospital with loved ones taking turns providing support to them during the last three days of his life. It was a great comfort to have such compassionate care and support. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at the Fairfield United Methodist Church, 37 Skowhegan Road (Rt. 201) in Fairfield. A reception and remembrance display honoring Steve will be held downstairs in the fellowship hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of his favorite charities: Relatively Stable Farm (in care of Sage Brown), 272 Bangor Road, Benton, Maine, 04901.