Wayne Arnold Buhelt

CUMBERLAND - Wayne A. Buhelt, of Cumberland, passed peacefully on Saturday, April 14, 2018. He was surrounded by his children, William, Rhonda and Michael, and one of his granddaughters, Leslie.

He was born Jan. 28, 1938, the middle son of Jens and Elsie (Pandora) Buhelt.

Wayne grew up in East Deering on Randall and Wordsworth Streets and attended the Portland school system. He was very proud of his Danish heritage and later in life was able to visit relatives in Denmark.

As a young man, he worked as a parking attendant at Libby's in downtown Portland. He always looked forward to parking the car of a young woman who worked at First Portland Savings Bank. He came up with a plan to meet this young woman by faking a problem with his car in front of her home in Cumberland. That "car problem" gave him the chance to ask her on a date. The woman was Loretta A. Logan. They married in September 1960. They were together for over 40 years, until her passing in August 2003.

He drove a truck for Clements Bros. and Cummings. Just after the birth of his first child, Wayne was involved in a tragic accident which led to him meeting and becoming close friends with State Trooper Richard Johnson.

This friendship ignited his passion for law enforcement, which became his lifelong career. In the mid-1960s, he worked nights as a reserve Trooper for the Maine State Police, while being a bus driver during the day for the Falmouth School Department.

He later worked as a patrol officer for the Falmouth Police Department and his hometown of Cumberland. Working for the Cumberland Police Department, Chief Richard Andersen selected him to be the department's first K9 Officer. He also helped with the establishment of the Cumberland Police Boat that provided service to Chebeague Island.

In the mid-1970s, Wayne started a full-time position with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office under Sheriff Martin Joyce. He worked within the court system, where he made the rank of sergeant. Wayne supervised court security and was well-respected by judges, attorneys, and court employees. He retired from the Sheriff's Office.

He then worked as a judicial marshal with the State of Maine Judicial Branch, travelling to many of the district and superior courts throughout Cumberland and York Counties before finally retiring from his law enforcement career. Wayne loved his time as part of the law enforcement community and the service he was committed to.

He was known to be somewhat strict with his three kids, but was often heard saying his grandkids can get away with anything. Wayne was extremely proud of his son Mike's and his grandson Brad's military service, with both serving multiple deployments.

Wayne followed his love for classic cars and attended frequent car shows with his friend, Mike King. He loved baseball and the Red Sox. He enjoyed going out to eat and was often seen at Cole Farms, Harmon's Hamburgers, Eddies Market, Rosie's and his morning meetings at Allen's Farm. He was well-known by his family for saying HE made the best fried haddock and ham dinners. They all secretly agreed.

Wayne was predeceased by his wife, Loretta; and brothers, Robert and Bruce.

He is survived by his three children, William and his wife, Lori (Audie) Buhelt, of Waterboro, their son Brad and his wife, Victoria, and their sons, Beckett and Cadain, and their daughter, Lauren Buhelt; Rhonda (Buhelt) Small and her husband, David, of Cumberland, and Rhonda's daughter, Leslie Budd and her fiance, Kyle Irish; and Michael Buhelt and his wife, Melissa (Lovejoy), and their children, Jensen and Janetta.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland, Sunday, April 22 from 1-3 p.m., where a memorial service will be celebrated at 3 p.m. The Rev. Robert Gustavson will officiate. Burial will be at a later date. For further information and to sign Wayne's guest book, please visit: www.jonesrichandbarnes.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the

National Law Enforcement

Officers Memorial Fund

Online at: nleomf.org

OR

Hawthorne House

31 Old County Road

Freeport, ME 04032