Gary L. Wulf age 64 of Prior Lake.
A resident of Prior Lake, Gary Lee Wulf, age 64, passed peacefully, with his family present at his bedside, early Friday morning, April 25, 2014, at the University of Minnesota, Fairview Hospital, in Minneapolis, MN. The visitation will be on Friday, May 2, from 4-7 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake, and one hour prior to the service at church. The Celebration of Life Service will be on Saturday, May 3 at 11 am, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 5634 Luther Road SE, Prior Lake, MN. The Reverend John P. Vaughn will preside, with his wife, Marcy, as the urn bearer. Gary will be laid to rest at a private family burial.
Gracing this world on February 2, 1950, in Wagner, SD, Gary was the second of five children, born to parents Harold and Ferne (Guindon) Wulf. Growing up in Ree Heights, SD, he assisted his father with daily duties on the ranch. In sixth grade, Gary’s family moved to Minnesota and eventually settled their roots in Chaska. He had a love for fast cars, engines and grease. Working at a service station, he earned money to replace his 1958 Chevy, for a 1968 Camaro SS, a gift to himself for graduating from Chaska High School in 1968.
Taking his fascination of engines and grease, Gary went from four wheels to eighteen wheels. He started driving truck for Ruan Trucking. In 1975, Gary bought his first truck, a GMC Jimmy. His hard work eventually helped him to buy a 1979 conventional Peterbilt. In 1993, he created G.L. Wulf Trucking. He traveled the country and was gone for weeks at a time. Expanding the business, Gary bought more trucks, added owner/operators and made weekly trips to California. In 2005, he switched gears and started making shorter hauls and transporting gravel.
Gary’s love of cars, turned into his favorite pastime…racing! For many years, he raced his own car at Elko Speedway and Raceway Park. He enjoyed watching NASCAR. For over 20 years, Gary looked forward to attending races and watching them on TV, with close buddies and his family. He had the privilege of seeing his favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt , win his first race at the Daytona 500 and was there to see his last race. Passing down the love of racing to his grandsons, Gary has been able to watch them learn and has even given them some advice along the way, in Quarter Midget and Bandolero Racing. He was happiest seeing his boys tearing up the track…sometimes literally.
Life for Gary was trucking and racing, but it was his family that meant the most. While ice skating at the Clay Hole in Chaska, he met the love of his life, Marcy Bahrke. On June 5, 1971, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Chaska, MN, Gary married his high school sweetheart. In 1972, they established their roots in Prior Lake, where they welcomed two beautiful and talented children, Justin and Tiffany. They were his world and everything he did was because he wanted the best for them. Gary loved to watch their sporting and school activities and even became UW-Stout’s best fan.
Gary was a plain and simple man. He enjoyed driving his tractor, working on his land, tinkering in his Bobcat, and spending time in his shop. He instilled strong values in his children and expected them to give 100 percent in everything they did, yet he had a soft side for his grandsons. On February 20, 1997, Gary received the gift of life…a double lung transplant. He surpassed his double lung transplant life expectancy. Through his strong will, stubborn attitude, and loving care from his wife, he proved his determination to live. The doctors never met a man, who took it all in stride and dealt with it. Gary was amazing and despite everything he went through, he kept going. To the people that knew him well Gary had a hard candy shell, but once you got through that, he had a soft center.
Left to honor Gary’s life and mourn the death is his wife Marcy; son, Justin (Debbie) Wulf; daughter, Tiffany Wulf; grandsons, Brody, Coy, Gage; mother, Ferne Wulf: siblings, Bonnie (Jack) Howard, Diana (Charles) Poppitz, Harold John Wulf, Darla Wulf, sisters and brother-in-laws Nancy (Dale) VanSloun, Vickie (John) McGrath, Jacquelyn Renken, many nieces and nephews along with other loving relatives and devoted friends. Preceded in death and there to welcome Gary home, his father, Harold; parents-in-law, Wilbert and Helen Bahrke, and brother-in-law, Curtis Renken.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation, Prior Lake Chapel, proudly served the Wulf family. www.BallardSunderFuneral.com
