AUGUSTA – Kenneth J. Albert II, 79, loving son, husband, father, brother and friend, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 22, at Maine Veteran's Home in Augusta after a twelve-year journey with dementia. Loving family was at his side. Ken was born in Dyer Brook, Maine, on October 7, 1942, the son of the late Kenneth J. Albert and Velma (Branscomb) Albert, of Pittston. Ken graduated from Gardiner High School in 1960, at which time he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Germany. Upon the death of his father in 1965, he returned stateside and later continued to serve his country in the Army National Guard, attaining the final rank of Chief Warrant Officer II. In recognition of his exemplary military service, he was awarded Soldier of the Year in 2001. He retired from the military following twenty years of proud service to his country. In his civilian life, Ken worked as a licensed electrician following graduation from Central Maine Vocational Technical Institute. He held several positions throughout his career, most notably at New England Telephone Co., and for many years at the Togus Veterans' Administration Medical Center where he worked as a biomedical electrical engineering technician until his retirement in 2007. Ken served his fellow veterans for several years in the Army Honor Guard. He was also proud of his service as a Fourth Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus, Maine State Council – District Eight – Canabas Council 1299. In retirement, he and wife Carolyn owned and operated The Open Door Christian Book Store. Until his dementia intervened, Ken also served for many years as sacristan at St. Joseph's Church in Gardiner. Ken was also privileged to participate in Honor Flight Maine with a trip to Washington D.C. in 2018 to experience the war memorials. He married Carolyn Jewett on November 26, 1989, and together they built a home next door to his mother in Pittston on the beautiful banks of the Kennebec River where they enjoyed 32 years together. Family and friends meant a great deal to Ken, and he will long be remembered for hosting The Albert Family Annual Pig Roast, which served as an opportunity to bring together scores of family and friends for a few days each summer. Ken was predeceased by his parents, an infant daughter, an infant grandson, his brother Rocky Albert and a special uncle, Hershel Albert. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, the former Patricia A. Ouellette, mother of his children. Ken is survived by his wife, Carolyn (Wood) Albert, his son, Kenneth (Deana) Albert of Lewiston, their children Kathryn and Nathan; daughter Laura (David) Ellis of Farmingdale, and her children Lindsey (Shane) Preo and Zachary (Amanda) Veilleux; and daughter Heather (Julian) Bayat of McKinney, TX, and children Tyler and Sophia. Ken is also survived by Carolyn's children who he loved as his own, Don (Tammy) Jewett, and their children, Alex, Airyn and Donnie; Cathy (Jim) Thomas, and their daughter Alexandria; Sarah (Matt) Perkins, and children Ryan and Meghan. Ken had a special love for all of his siblings: Mary Pillsbury, Dawn (Jerry) Millette, Linda (Denny) Foster, David (Carol) Albert, Daniel Albert, Lori (Rick) Hafner, Rocky Albert (deceased), Tom (Dana) Albert, Teddy Morin, Hershel (Al) Albert, Camilla (John) McKinney and Julia (Richard) Perron. Dozens of nieces, nephews, great grandchildren and special cousins also survive. His family wishes to thank the many caregivers at Woodlands Senior Living – Lewiston, Maine Veteran's Home – Augusta, and the wonderful hospice team Androscoggin Home Healthcare & Hospice lead by Dr. Elizabeth Hart, who gave him such compassionate medical care over the last year. Visiting hours will be on Thursday, March 3, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner, Maine. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, March 4, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gardiner, where he was a communicant. A Committal Service with full military honors will be held at the new Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 163 Mt. Vernon Rd., Augusta, Maine, on July 22 at 12:00 p.m. Memorial donations can be made in his honor to either Androscoggin Home Healthcare & Hospice, 15 Strawberry Ave., Lewiston, Maine 04240 or https://androscoggin.org/donate/, or to Honor Flight Maine, P.O. Box 1770, Portland, Maine, 04104-1770 or https://www.honorflightmaine.org/donations. Isaiah 40:31 Yet, the strength of those who wait with hope in the Lord will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and won't become weary. They will walk and won't grow tired. Arrangements are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website: www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com