KNOX — Harold “Harry” Lewis Orelup — who  lived much of his life passionately serving others in some form of law enforcement — died on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at his home Knox following a long illness. He was 75.

Mr. Orelup was born on June 6, 1942, in Tribes Hill, Montgomery County, to Harold Willis and Helen Elizabeth (née Lewis) Orelup.

He married Billiejune Stomski in 1967. They were married for almost 51 years, their union ending only with his death. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, attending the Schoharie Valley Ward in Central Bridge, New York since the late 1960s.

Mr. Orelup graduated from police officer basic training at Hudson Valley Community College for the Albany County Sheriff's Department in 1967, said his daughter, Samantha Mueller. He worked for the Albany County Sheriff's Office as a deputy. During this time, he also helped found the Sheriff’s Highway Patrol, where he became a sergeant.

Mr. Orelup then worked at the Coxsackie Correctional Facility as a corrections officer after completing training in 1974, said Ms. Mueller. He began working for the Albany County Probation Department as a probation officer in 1977.

On June 1, 1982, Mr. Orelup was appointed the Village of Schoharie’s Chief of Police. He served there for 30 years until he retired in 2012, said his daughter. During this time, he occasionally worked part-time for the Altamont Police, she said.

While law enforcement was his occupation, Mr. Orelup was an excellent mechanic and all-around handyman. He also had a passion for reading, fast cars, guns, and dogs, having loved several Dobermans and German shepherds over the years. He had a black belt in karate. He was proud of his Scottish heritage and enjoyed researching his family history.

Mr. Orelup spent nearly all of his working life in some form of law enforcement. Beyond his police work, he also worked in security at the New York Power Authority, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and the Altamont Fair.

Of many distinctive life moments, one stood out for its uniqueness. During a security job at SPAC, he had an opportunity to play with the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra when he shot a rifle into a drum during the finale of the William Tell Overture.

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Mr. Orelup is survived by his wife, Billiejune (née Stomski) Orelup; his four children; Deborah Veith and her husband, Sherwood Veith; Samantha Mueller and her husband, Joerg Mueller; Andrew Orelup and his wife, Michelle Tonello; and Alicia Orelup; his four grandchildren, Joshua Veith and his wife, Trista Colton; Rachel Gillan and her husband, Jeff Gillan; Olivia Mueller; and Oskar Mueller; two great-granddaughters, Ava Gillan and Harper Veith; a sister, Valerie Orelup; as well as multiple nephews and nieces. His sister, Vivian Chestnut, died before him.

Services were held on Sunday, May 20, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Schoharie Valley Ward, in Central Bridge. Interment took place Monday morning on May 21, at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Guilderland. His pallbearers were Terry Armour, Sherwood Veith, Clara Weloth, Richard Trinci, Andrew Orelup, Jared Parrotti, Officer Frank Kennedy of the Schoharie Police Department, and Jay Francis.

Donations in Mr. Orelup’s name may be made to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society at 3 Oakland Ave, Menands, NY 12204.

To leave condolences for the family, please visit: www.NewComerAlbany.com.

— H. Rose Schneider