Obituary of Dale Christie Wheaton

Dale Wheaton, 74, died Nov. 7 in Forest City, Maine, from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) following a three-year struggle. His wife and the love of his life, Jana (Brown) Wheaton, was at his side.

Dale was born in Princeton, Maine, February 10, 1950, the third son of Ruth (Christie) and Woodworth (Woodie) Wheaton of Grand Lake Stream. He grew up in Grand Lake Stream with summers spent in Forest City, where his parents operated Wheaton’s Lodge & Camps.

Dale attended Lee Academy, received his Bachelors Degree, “With Distinction,” at the University of Maine in Orono in 1971, and completed his graduate work (M. Phil) at the University of Nottingham in England in 1974. His research centered around the economics of water quality management.    

In early 1979, Dale and Jana purchased Wheaton’s Lodge from interim owners, embarking on a successful 34 year career. Dale was an Associate Professor of Economics in the off-season at the University of Maine (Orono) from 1979 to 2006.  Wheaton’s Lodge, one of the largest sources of guide employment in Maine, was sold in 2013. A lot of hard work, faithful employees, and a cadre of Maine fishing guides rivaled by none all contributed to its success.

Dale led numerous organizations during his stay on Earth including Maine’s Congress of Lakes Association and The Maine Sporting Camp Association. He was a founding father and past president of the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust which has conserved hundreds of miles of lakeshore and riparian forests for traditional uses by all.  He also served on the governor-appointed St. Croix International Waterway Commission for over twenty years. 

Dale’s passion and love for the Chiputneticook Lakes region was contagious among his  sports who have generously supported conservation efforts of the land trust for the last three decades.  Dale was loved for his quirky sense of humor, pranks as a practical joker, and his infinite supply of off-color jokes, along with his innate ability to find a fish. His identity was as a Maine guide (60 consecutive years in the stern seat) and he would wish to be remembered that way above all other accomplishments. He was grateful for the many friendships spawned in his canoe and the camaraderie of the guides he worked with. 

Dale authored three books. Observations from the Stern (1995) and Behind the Cast (2018) were popular collections of humorous Maine guide stories. At the insistence of his peers, his last book was recently completed. The Story of the Grand Lake Canoe (2024) traces the origin and evolution of square-stern canoes in the sporting village of Grand Lake Stream, Maine. 

Dale is survived by Jana, his best friend and wife for over a half-century. Also, their two cherished daughters: Jill (fiancé, Zack Judson); Kim (husband, Brian Devlin); granddaughter, Charli Devlin (his favorite fishing buddy), and Pudge (super dog).  Other surviving family include brothers Art (and Doris Jalbert Wheaton), and Lance (and Georgie Hayes Wheaton), their children and grand children.

Special thanks go out to our caring hospice team:  Janet, Margaret and Dahna.

A celebration of life will be held next summer, date to be determined.  

Donations, if desired, can be made to the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust, 2 Grove Road, Forest City Twp., ME 04413.