Horseman Neal G. Tranten, 84, of Kingfield, Maine, passed away at home surround by his four daughters and four sons on Tuesday, January 10. He accepted death knowing he had lived a full and rich life.

Tranten was born Nov. 19, 1932. He was raised in Anson by his parents, Harold and Mary Tranten. He had one sibling, a brother, Donald, who passed away at a young age from Leukemia.

Tranten attended Madison High School and played football all four years. He continued to love the sport of football. As a young man, he joined the U.S. Marines and was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. While escorting a young lady to a weekend dance on base, he met another young lady, his future wife, the late Eva Mozelle Tranten. They exchanged dance partners that night, and became partners themselves for more than 50 years of marriage.

He returned to Maine in 1955, as he moved 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 favourite spot to fish was Shiloh Pond.

Tranten also had another favourite 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 Horsemen's Association and the Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association. He was awarded the Lifetime Award by the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association.

He 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 (January 13) from 4-7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may 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 his lifetime accomplishments.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Giberson Funeral Home in Madison.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Neal Tranten.

(USTA)