Wayne Buhlig

Wayne Junior Buhlig passed away Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at 5:15pm in Fort Collins, Colorado due to complications from stroke. He was 90.

Wayne was born May 13, 1932, near Bluffs, Illinois, to Henry and Bertha (Albers) Buhlig as the youngest of their 12 children. Upon graduating from high school, Wayne joined the U.S. Navy, was trained as an aircraft mechanic and served during the Korean War aboard several carriers including the USS Bennington and USS Midway. After the service, he became first from his family to both attend and graduate from college, earning a Bachelor's in Education from Western Illinois University, then later a Master's in Educational Psychology from University of Northern Colorado (named Colorado State College at the time).

While pursuing his Master's, Wayne met and married Barbara Wilkins in 1961 in Greeley, Colorado. The Buhligs moved to western Illinois where Wayne pursued a career in public education, as a high school teacher in Joy and then Cambridge; as principal of Rushville High School, then superintendent of Avon schools. Upon his retirement from education, the Buhligs moved to Fort Collins in 1987 where he shortly began working for the Larimer County weatherization program, first as a technician then later as its administrator. After retirement from the county, Wayne worked at downtown Ace Hardware in Fort Collins, then later Joseph's Hardware and Home Center, endearing many loyal customers and staff. Wayne enjoyed partying with friends and golf particularly in his younger days, building model ships and airplanes, and "tinkering" with cars, engines and a wide variety of home projects.

Wayne was preceded in death by his wife Barbara; his parents; his siblings Howard, Hazel, Bernice, Donald, Opal, Maxine, Helen, Lee, Charles, and William. He is survived by his sister Jean; his sons Todd, Rodd, and Blake; his grandchildren Nathan, Alex, Madalyn, Kayla, Benjamin, Jaron, Silas and Micah; great-grandchildren Ellis and Paisley; and numerous friends and extended family.