Van Buren--- Gene "Polar Bear" Ouellette, 67, passed away February 13, 2023, following a short illness. He was born January 28, 1956, in Van Buren, a son of Gladys (Jacques) Ouellette Pelletier and the late Harold Ouellette.

Gene was a dedicated and beloved tanker driver for Tulsa for over 34 years, until his retirement. "Polar Bear" would long-haul at the drop of a dime and was well known for his humor and dry jokes at all the truck stops across the State of Maine. During his younger years, Gene worked at Lajoie Farms, Cyr Plt., during planting and harvest seasons, and was a potato truck driver for Lajoie Growers. When not driving, Gene loved hunting and fishing and touring the many woods of northern Maine on ATV. Every vehicle he owned required to be "chromed up," and he would polish all his chrome to the brightest mirror shine. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus and a former volunteer with Van Buren Volunteer Fire Department.

He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Millie (Gervais) Ouellette; five children, Jamey Ouellette, Ryan Ouellette, Corey Ouellette, Stephanie Lefrancois, and Adam Lefrancois; his mother; seven siblings, Tanya Pennington, Daniel Ouellette, Darylin Tardif, Nadine Cyr, Charlene Cormier, Kevin Ouellette, and Timmy Ouellette; ten grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at St. Bruno-St. Remi Catholic Church, Main St., Van Buren. Spring interment will be in Grand River Cemetery, Van Buren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family to assist in offsetting funeral costs. Arrangements are a service of Lajoie Funeral Home, 118 High St., Van Buren.