Neil Oscar Tikander, 78 of West Paris passed away on June 6, 2026 at the Maine Veterans Home in South Paris, Me, He was born on December 19, 1947, a son of the late Oscar “Doc” and L. Elizabeth “Betty” Ollikainen Tikander.
At a young age he moved with his family to South Paris, Maine He graduated from Oxford Hills High School in 1965. He then attended East Coast Aero Tech in Massachusetts, graduating in 1967. Neil worked for Thurston Aircraft Corp as an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic, until being drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in Vietnam and Laos in a Special Operations Air Assault Unit of the 7th Air Calvary as a helicopter door gunner and infantry squad leader; attached to the First Air Calvary Division. Neil saw action in Khe-Sanh; the Battle of Hue and the A-Shau Valley Campaign. He was wounded for a second time during the Tet-Offensive and spent a year in the hospital recovering.
Neil was a 100% service-connected disabled Veteran of the Vietnam War. His Military decorations included the Air Medal, Combat Infantrymen’s Badge, Expert Marksman’s badges for the Machine Gun, Rifle, Pistol and Two Purple Hearts. His division was the first to receive a Presidential Unit Citation in Vietnam.
After the service Neil worked for Central Vermont Railroad as a communication and signal maintainer. He Also owned the West Paris General Store and the Village Sponge Sauna in Oxford. He worked with Dennis Woodworth doing Roofing and Siding for a number of years. He retired in 2007 from Maine Homecrafter’s due to his health, after siding over five hundred houses along with his son Max.
Neil was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in South Paris since 1952. He also belonged to American Legion Foster Carroll Post #72 in South Paris. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Vietnam Veterans of America. Neil also belonged to the Finish American Heritage Society of West Paris.
Neil enjoyed flying, having logged over 1200 hours since he first soloed at the age of 15. He also loved skiing, hunting, golf and fly fishing, especially in the Florida Keys along with his late best friend Tom Ryan. He loved spending time with his Camp Moocher’s Home in Rangeley with family and close friends. In 1979 he caught a State Record Brook Trout on a fly rod. The trout is on permanent display and can be seen at the Outdoor Heritage Museum in Oquossoc, Maine.
Neil is survived by his loving wife Charlene and his son Max of West Paris, a brother Donald and his wife Kitti of South Paris as well as by his sister in law Penny Sampson.
A graveside committal will be held at a later date. Condolences may be shared at FuneralAlternatives.net