Marlyn August "Gus" Schopper, 85, of Southport died at home July 12, 2022 after a long battle with cancer.

He was born at home on Jan. 11, 1937 in Rib Lake, Wisconsin.

Gus was a U.S. Navy veteran, joining the service right out of high school, who attained the rank of E9 (ETMC) electronics technician.

While working locally on minesweepers at Sample's Shipyard, he met and eventually married Sally Fossett of Boothbay Harbor in 1959. During his service time, he worked on submarines and was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, Japan and Connecticut before moving back to Boothbay Harbor. Sally died at age 32 in 1974 and Gus retired from the Navy in 1975, raising their two sons, Kenneth and Fred.

He met and eventually married Marie (Tibbetts) Burnham on Christmas Day 1981 and they spent the next 40+ years happily married and living on Southport.

Gus readily accepted his new family as well, with Marie having had four children from her previous marriage to the late Parker Burnham of East Boothbay. As the family grew with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he was always willing to be involved in their lives, helping however he could financially or with sage advice and attending their graduations, marriages, sporting events and other activities. He certainly lived by one of his favorite sayings, "Every day is a good day." Another favorite saying was "Suck it up, buttercup."

Gus worked locally at Bath Iron Works, Goudy & Stevens Shipyard, Hodgdon Yachts, and for Northern Lights Electric before retiring at age 79.

He enjoyed having a good time, watching his favorite teams, the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and Wisconsin Badgers. He also enjoyed growing vegetables -- from his days in Boothbay Harbor to his many years on Southport, Gus always had a garden going until his health forced him to quit.

Gus was also a voracious reader, collecting and reading dozens upon dozens of military, historical and governmental novels by the likes of Tom Clancy, Ken Follett, David Baldacci and many others.

Besides his first wife, he was predeceased by his son Fred.

He is survived by his wife Marie; son Kenneth and his wife Linda of Florence, Alabama; stepchildren Melodee and her husband Kevin of Boothbay, Tim and his wife Darla of Grand Island, Nebraska, Becky and her husband Martin of East Boothbay, Aaron and his wife Christina of Lincolnton, North Carolina, Ken and Linda's children Donovan, Dustin and Brandon Storm; 15 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and one great-great grandchild. He is also survived by a brother Eugene "Skip" Schopper, sister Phyllis, both of Wisconsin, and the many friends he made over the years.

As was his wish, there will be no services.