KINGFIELD – Neal G. Tranten, of Kingfield, passed away at home surround by his four daughters and four sons on Jan. 10, 2017. He accepted death knowing he had lived a full and rich life.
Neal was born eighty-four years ago on Nov. 19, 1932. He was raised in Anson by his parents Harold and Mary Tranten. He had one sibling, a brother, Donald Tranten, who died at a young age of Leukemia. Neal attended Madison High school, playing football all four years. Neal continued to love the sport of football.
As a young man, Neal joined the U.S. Marines, and was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. While escorting a young lady to a week-end dance on base, he met another young lady, his future wife, the late Eva Mozelle Tranten. Neal and Mozelle exchanged dance partners that night, and became partners themselves for over 50 years of marriage.
He returned to Maine in 1955, moving to Kingfield to work for his father at the Tranten General Store. His butcher block was often surrounded by locals deciding town politics. He brought the delicatessen idea to town by selling Italian sandwiches from behind the meat case. He not only was the butcher, but had a roll top desk tucked in the back serving as the town office to carry out his town clerk duties. He’d sell fishing licenses and perform marriages in that corner of the store. He ventured to build a new grocery store 30 years ago, which is now Tranten’s Family Market on Main Street in Kingfield.
He taught the love of the outdoors to his children by being an avid hunter and fisherman. He would often spend an evening fly fishing below the dam in Kingfield. Even though he got to experience fly fishing in Newfoundland and Iceland, everyone knew his favorite spot to fish was Shiloh Pond.
Neal also had another favorite pastime, raising and training horses for harness racing all over the state of Maine, out of state and in Canada. He became a very well respected member of the Maine harness racing family. He was a member of the Maine Harness Horseman Association and the Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association. He was awarded the Life Time Award by the Maine Harness Horseman’s Association.
Neal is survived by his eight married children, 20 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren.
Visiting hours for the family by friends and the community will be at the Giberson Funeral Home in Madison on Friday, Jan. 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kingfield Methodist Church and/or the Webster Library of Kingfield. There will be a celebration of life in the spring for family, friends, and community to celebrate Neal’s life time accomplishments.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Giberson Funeral Home in Madison.
Our deepest condolences to the Trantens. A great man, and great family.
Peter and I would like to give our love and healing prayers to the family. Losing parents is a very hard time. So sorry for your loss.
Condolences to the Tranten family
Sorry for your loss,will miss him a lot ,loved him a lot he was a great man. Love you guys💚❤️💚
Please accept our love and prayers. Your family has always meant a lot to us. I have warm memories of your parents while growing up. Sending love filled hugs and prayers. Stan and Terry Wills. ♡
Thinking of you all …and sending hugs…
A wonderful man and such an asset to both Kingfield and Farmington. He will be sadly missed.
Sorry for your loss.
Randy & Beryl
Such a wonderful man. So many of my childhood memories include Neal. There will be an empty spot on the race track. Hugs and prayers to the family <3
So sorry, you are all in our thoughts and prayers. He was so good to all of us. We loved Mozelle and Neal.
I am lucky in that the best portion of my adult life was being part of your family and I not only am blessed with more memories than I can count, photo albums filled with many memories, and great children. Losing a parent has to be one of the hardest moments in life but I know that he is with Grammy Mary and Mozelle and you all have the best of both of them within you. My deepest condolences.
RIP….to ah great man…neal done so much for the town….
Our thoughts and prayers are with Neal’s family. Love to you all.
Used to stand with my mother in front of the meat case at the store. Best meat available at the time. Used to tease me. Will miss this man and pray for family members as they pass through a difficult time in their lives
To all the Tranten family – so sorry to hear about Neal’s passing. May your hearts be comforted knowing that he is at peace. I have fond memories of him. He was a sweet man. Neal and Mozelle are reunited at last. Take special care –
Denise, John Sumner and Nate Winter
To the Tranten Family Sorry to here about Neals passing he was a special person and he will be missed. My thoughts are with you.
Deepest condolences to the Tranten family. I have many fond memories of Neal. Wishing you love, peace and comfort during this difficult time.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Tranten family. I have fond memories of Neal at the old store, he always had a smile for me back when I was a shy, new girl in town.
Doreen
To my dear friends Robin and Bob Konieczko and their children as well as the entire Tranten family….my deepest sympathy at this difficult time. Neal was a wonderful man who always had an interesting story or opinion to share. Now is the time to recall those stories and share them with others and keep his memory alive.
Love to you all.
Sheila Bigelow
Sending prayers and so sorry for your loss to the Tranten family. Neal was always nice to everyone and was truly an asset to the town of Kingfield. He can now rest and join his beloved in heaven. God Bless.
Neal was a fascinating person to talk with ….I pray the Angela with their sulkyiea race to take him to his new grand adventure. Prayers for peace and love to his family and friends ..our area has lost a wonderful man.
My condolences to the Tranten famiy. I have fond memories of going to the store with my Nana at the original Trantens on Depot St and the Pug dog that was always there. Mr. Tranten always was nice to me and often would give me a piece of candy. In later years he always spoke to me when I was in the store and made sure I had what I needed. He was a pillar of Kingfield and in my opinion is one of the all-time gentlemen I have encountered.
My prayers and thoughts are with the entire Tranten family. I remember back to 1955 when Neal came to Kingfield to work with his Dad and Mom at the store on Depot Street. I have always enjoyed talking to him through the years. Even tough I moved to Wilton over 51 years ago, I have always enjoyed seeing him either in Kingfield or Farmington and talking with or hearing a story that he might say. I joined the Kingfield Senior Citizens several years ago and have seen him at these meetings from time to time. May God bless you all!
My condolences to all of the family.
I have many memories of the whole family beginning with Mary and Fat when they first came to Kingfield and became good friends with my parents. They all taught me many valuable lessons while growing up in Kingfield.
May you allow the love of family and friends to help you through this most difficult time.
I am so sorry for your families loss….be proud of the work ethic he instilled in all of you and your tolerance of Everyone
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. It was always a pleasure to see Neal and catch up on everyone in your family. What a wonderful man, always a smile on his face and he always made time to speak with you and ask how you were doing. Feel comfort that Neal and Mozelle are now back in each others arms dancing and together again.
Much love and hugs sent to a wonderful family during this time of loss.
To the Tranten family: I am very sorry for your loss. While I never had the pleasure of meeting Neal, just reading his obituary and the comments on here leaves no doubt about how great a man he was and the positive effect he had on the lives of many. My best to all the family and friends.
This is a sad lose to many people in the town of kingfield and surrounding town this loss of one man many people have good fond memories this family has been a big part of my life and childrens from school church I delivered the Sunday paper to them and every day at trantens store old store one on depot street and on main street I was teased by Neal and he made me smile calling me little nic for all my life and my dad nic he would always as a kid gave me a piece of cheese off the cheese wheel and would put the biggest smile on my face this one man will be missed my heart goes out to the family I will always have good memories of you all in my heart Neal and Mozeal are together again we will miss you Vicky Nichols Gilmore and children
My heartfelt condolences go out the the Tranten family and friends. Neal was one of my all time favorite people. Such a kind, caring and generous man with a heart of gold. I truly enjoyed the many years I had the privilege of caring for and racing his horses with the Cushing family. A loss to the whole community. May he rest in peace. Sincerely, Tricia McCleery Weston and family
Sorry for your loss
Terry and Tranton Family, I am so sorry for the loss of your father. Prayers of comfort and strength during this very sad time. May it help you to know many people are thinking of you all and praying for the family. God Bless Kimberly
We were privileged to do business for several years with Neal Tranten. He and his family worked closely and happily with local businesses. They even planned trips “down through” so they could stop at our farm in New Sharon to pick up their Turkeys or Turkey products, saving us a delivery trip to Kingfield.
Not that we weren’t always happy to take a ride “up through” to deliver.
Neal Tranten personified everything that is good about small-town life. None of us is without faults, but Neal seemed to see us through our strengths. What a wonderful model for the rest of us to follow.
I ran into Neal a few years ago at a UMaine women’s basketball game at the Alfond Arena. We talked hoops. He knew a great deal about the Maine team and was proud of the young women with “Maine” on their uniforms. Maine was home.
Marilyn and I even drove to Kingfield a few times to do our week’s shopping at Tranten’s store because we felt so positively about Neal and the family.
God bless Neal Tranten and the entire Tranten family. Neal’s was a life extremely well lived.
We too had the blessing of knowing and working with Neal. He delivered meals for the Traditional Thanksgiving Day Dinner for Franklin County for as long as we have been running it. Even this year when he could no longer deliver he was in the vehicle with his son and grandson still setting the example, Our sincere condolences to the Tranten family.
Semper Fi
Marine
Neal, God Bless you. For all you have done and started.
May you rest in Peace.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Tranten family.
Burchell & I shared many good times during our winter vacations here in Florida with Neal & Mozelle. For many years Neal was part of the summer golfing trips to New Hampshire and Canada and a great time was had by all the guys. Nothing but good memories. Rest in peace Neal. Our condolences to all the Tranten family.
our deepest condolences to the whole Trantens family. He always had a smile and a warm greeting for all. Now this great man can dance with his love Mozelle once more. He will be missed but not forgotten.
Such a sweet, gentle, passionate, genuine man. Anyone blessed with knowing Mr. Tranten, could say they met an Earth Angel in my eyes.
Neil and Mozelle were two of the sweetest people I ever knew.
Look Well to the East Brother Neal,
Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant. Enter now the Kingdom of the Supreme Architect. Never will I be able to repay you or your Sons for the care and Kindness they bestowed Upon My later Father. I hope you get to go flyfishing with Him, he knows a couple Spot.
Stephen Trent Seames
Prayers of condolences to you all. I feel very privileged to have known both Neal and Mozelle. If my memory serves me correctly (sometimes it doesn’t) I recall Neal calling Mozelle his Georgia Peach, a sign of his great love.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Prayers for his family.
I am so very sorry to hear this news. My greatest childhood memories are that of Kingfield Me. and THE GENERAL STORE! My Grandmother Edna Packard lived next door to the Trantons .I remember all the summer and winter vacations and playing with all the Tranton children. Please except my deepest sympathies…Cindy (Packard) Pleines.
He will be missed by all who knew him. He was a staple in this area.. always kind, helpful, forever a public servant.. Our prayers are with his family at this time.
To all the family of Neal ,Sorry to hear of your loss .