Obituary of Steve Wahl

Steve Wahl, 65, best known as "Floyd" amongst his friends and family, passed away peacefully with his best friend, Shaunna Gulsvig, at his side in the early morning hours April 28, 2017. With his passing, nephews and nieces will miss his boisterous personality thundering to the party on his Harley-Davidson; siblings will miss a brother who survived and redeemed his life after their own unsettled beginnings; friends will miss a fellow misfit, all in leather, riding off to Sturgis; Aerosmith will have lost their No. 1 fan; and all will miss his phone calls. Floyd was very open and honest about his drug and alcohol years in how it shaped him and ultimately in how he knew it would take him. He was very proud of the fact that excepting for a later diagnosis of Hepatitis C, he left all of it behind in his early 30s. He retreated to the north country and rebuilt himself amongst a close knit community of motorcyclists, musicians, barbershop clientele and many others. He stayed connected to and supported individuals who struggled with substance addictions, and made frequent visits to animal shelters to express affection towards the abandoned. He discomposed folks when at their first meeting-climbing off a bike, sun-soaked skin beneath long wavy hair, dressed in black, smelling of an asphalt road .... Speaking through a stubble chin seasoned grey, he'd gruffly introduce himself, "My name is Floyd. How do you like me so far?" and then disarm them with a mischievous smile, handshake or hug. In all this, he revealed that true to his very nature and heart, he was always in for a good time, and recognized deeply the importance of being loved and accepted, no matter what road you were on or where life had taken you. GATHERING: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. informal gathering of friends and family Wednesday, May 3 in the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 4100 Grand Ave., Duluth. Please come and share your thoughts and experiences with such a wonderful soul.