Ernest Fred Burnham

Ernest Fred Burnham (71) of Lewiston, joined our Lord and Savior while in his home on Friday, January 6, 2023. Born April 15th, 1951, at Central Maine General, Fred is the son of Carrol and Florence Burnham. He was educated in the Auburn area school system and then went on to join the U.S. Navy where he worked on the USS Rival and USS Detector; he was a proud veteran. He had been self-employed for much of his life as a general contractor working with “stick & steel” and he was truly a jack of all trades. Fred had a versatile professional work history: He was a truck driver, teacher, salesman, steel bridge worker, rigger, skilled craftsman, cabinet builder, and finish carpenter. He took pride in every job he had.

There were so many things that Fred loved to do. It’s hard to say what he loved most as they were all a part of who he was. He was a devoted Christian who enjoyed reading The Word every day. If you needed a prayer, you could count on him for sincere and heart-felt words. He loved bonding with the family dog Gage, fishing, hunting, spending quality time with family, and making the grandkids laugh. If something was broken, he loved the challenge of fixing it. His skills on the grill at family gatherings was unmatched and he knew it. He was always there to cheer on the Patriots and Bruins and loved to talk post-game highlights. He was a Good Samaritan and would help anyone in need, including giving more than he had. He became a private pilot in 1995 and loved to spend time in the sky.

Fred is survived by his sister, Patricia Burnham of Aurora, CO. Ex-wife and friend Nancy Fournier of Lewiston. Daughters, Jennifer Arsenault of Lewiston, Jovan Burnham of Lewiston, and Tricia Tufts Kline. Sons, Aaron Arsenault (Jennifer) of Simsbury, CT, Ryan Burnham (Megan) of Dublin, OH, and Shawn Tufts, and many beloved grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Fred is predeceased by his parents Carrol and Florence Burnham, Sister Betty, Brother David, David’s wife Gloria and their son Devin.

A memorial service in his honor will be held at Gracelawn Memorial on May 19th at 11:00 AM.