Gary "Whammy" Allerding, 64, of Superior, died Thursday, July 16, 2015, at his residence.

He was born January 20, 1951, in Detroit, Michigan, son of Howard and Marise (Goehring) Allerding.

It was in Detroit where Gary developed a love for rock music and muscle cars. In his early 20s he headed west and spent much of the 1970s in Colorado, where he was an avid photographer, then moved to Minnesota. In Minnesota he lived in Biwabik, Knife River and Duluth. In 2003 he settled into his first home in Superior, Wisconsin.

Over the years he has owned a variety of cars including several 5.0 Mustangs. In Duluth, Gary enjoyed drag racing at the Garfield Avenue Drag Races and attending Wednesday night car shows.
Gary has played guitar for many years, beginning in his Detroit days and inspired by his many trips to the famous Grande Ballroom in Detroit, where some of the great late 60s rock acts performed, and has been a member of several bands that have played in Duluth clubs.

He worked at Advantage Emblem & Screen Printing in Duluth for 14 years as a screen technician and never missed a day of work.

Gary even had his own drink named after him at R.T. Quinlan's Saloon in Duluth, the "Whammy Bucket".

Survivors include his younger siblings back in Detroit, Rita and Paul Allerding, and a niece and nephew.

Visitation will be from 9 until the 11 a.m. service, Wednesday, July 22, 2015, at Downs Funeral Home, 1617 N. 19th Street, Superior.

Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Superior.