Drew Ole Odegaard, 73, of Kennebunk, Maine, passed away on December 19, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Ole was born on April 13, 1952, on Staten Island, New York, to Lloyd B. Odegaard and Esther “Joni” (Evensen) Odegaard. He grew up on Staten Island, attending elementary school at P.S. 29 Bardwell and middle school at I.S. 27 Anning S. Prall. In seventh grade he moved with his family to Northwood, New Hampshire, and he went on to graduate from Oyster River High School in 1970. He spent many years working with the New York City District Council of Carpenters Local 608 as a talented shop steward, foreman, and premier acoustical ceiling engineer for large-scale commercial building projects, including the World Trade Center, the Chrysler Building, the Flat Iron Building, and many more notable buildings in New York City. He retired in 2005. You could often find him enjoying a pint or two after work at the Blarney Rock Pub on 33rd Street.

Ole was a man of many talents and passions. His main passion was the love of his life, Linda Anita (Brynildsen), whom he met at Camp Spofford in New Hampshire in 1973. They were married on September 14, 1974 in a lovely fall ceremony in Brooklyn, New York, with a celebration in Staten Island. Together, they created a beautiful family and were blessed with seven children and twelve grandchildren, each of whom carries a piece of Ole's heart. Family meant everything to him.

Ole’s early years were marked by his love for music. He taught himself how to play six- and twelve-string guitars and became an expert at finger picking. Throughout his life, he had many interests, tried many things, and loved learning as much as he could. Some of those things included: building canoes, making bowties, hunting, fishing, gardening, walking along the beach with his wife and puppy, Asta Wiggles Odegaard, building model trains, telling tall tales, working on jigsaw puzzles, reading books, skiing, researching family history and genealogy, and trying new recipes. He even had his own YouTube channel. He also enjoyed ambitious projects such as dismantling old barns, and created bridges over swamps with pallets. Plus, he was a master at creating sledding trails and ice skating ponds for his children in the great north woods.

He truly caused mischief and created laughter wherever he went, which was many places. Something of a wanderer and adventurer, he and his family lived in New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and then New York again, before moving with Linda to Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and finally to Maine. It was in Milwaukee in 1980 that he signed up to become a Green Bay Packers season ticket holder. Thirteen short years later, while living in northern Minnesota, he received the tickets and paid for the privilege of sitting on the best bleacher seats in the NFL for over twenty-five years before passing them on to his family to enjoy in his place.

He was a vibrant and colorful person, so it’s no secret that he had a huge appreciation for the arts. He went back to college as an adult, and worked tirelessly toward earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, which he received in 1998. His stage name was Booker James Winter, and he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild. He was known for appearing in films such as Iron Will (1994), Rip Dreams (2010), Higher Ground (2011), and Woods of Tomorrow (2012).

Ole is survived by his loving wife, Linda; his seven children: Rebecca Lugo (Wilson); Ross (Katie); Korinne (Stephen); Kryst Notaro (Matt); Jessica Meeks (David); Erik; and Josh (Marizona Cordova); and his 12 grandchildren: Cooper, Connor, Olivia, Evrett, Benett, Zander, Cora, Westley, Lyla, Norah, Ethan, and Polaris.

He is also survived by his mother, Esther “Joni”; brother Randall (Jodie); sister Leigh Ensor (John); and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Ole was predeceased by his father, Lloyd B., in 2016, and his brother Lloyd B. Jr., in 2022.

A period of visitation will be held on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, Maine. A Celebration of Life will be held immediately following at 12:00 PM. The family suggests that everyone wear something cozy to honor his memory; flannel is highly encouraged.

A private family burial will take place in 2026.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to A Giving Heart Foundation at https://aghf.org/. This organization funds efforts by some of the world’s top pediatric specialists to develop a first-of-its-kind dissolvable stent designed especially for children, so no child will have to go through open-heart surgery again.

To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, you can do that on this website and on his Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.

Cards or other letters can be sent to the family, c/o Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043.

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