Floyd Nels Wicklund

Floyd Nels Wicklund, age 84, of Grants Pass, died July 14, 2024 at his home.

Floyd N. Wicklund was born on June 22, 1940 in Portland, Oregon to Cecelia Annabelle (Washburn) Wicklund & Jack Wicklund. He died July 14, 2024 at his home in Grants Pass, Oregon.

 Mother was born in Illinois 07/31/1914 died 06/27/1984 and father in Sweden born 03/23/1896 died 04/24/1985.

 After Floyd’s birth, his home was in a mill town called Kinzu, Oregon. The family moved to Portland in the Gilles district for a year, then to Redmond, Oregon where most of his fond memories were of his childhood. Then on to Roseburg, Oregon and out to Ten Mile where he was famous for driving a 1956 Dodge D500 very fast and the local men had bets on whether he'd make it or not. His nickname was "The Terror of 42" (Hwy 42).

 Graduating from Roseburg High School in 1959, he went to work in a plywood mill before following his folks to Grants Pass in 1960. Worked for Bekins Moving Company in Grants Pass until he was hired on with the Josephine County Sheriff Office in 1969. He started as a Jailor, moved to a Patrolman and advanced to becoming a Detective for 22 years of his 24 years’ service retiring in 1995 as Detective Sergeant. He worked for 7 administrations under Sheriff Snider, Sheriff Brandt, Sheriff Fanning, Sheriff Nuby, Sheriff Carlton, Sheriff Arnardo, and Sheriff Calvert. Seven in all...lots of crime in those years and two of the Sheriffs had Floyd on call 24x7 using a crime scene van (CSI). He did daily radio interviews about the crimes and once a week TV interviews unless a homicide case was pending.

Floyd was a major crime Detective with several other hats, like Print Analysis, Hostage Negotiations, Medical Examiner, ran the black and white Photo Lab and it was such a success so they went full color processing. He hired Cheryl A. as Color Photo Technician. In the earlier years, he was part of the JOINT Team. He made several raids on illegal Marijuana grows. He also helped Hull & Hull and LB Hall funeral homes with people that had passed.

 Floyd was sent to Polygraph school in 1975 and ran polys for both the Sheriff Office as well as privately. He was on the State Board for Polygraph examiners for 14 years and helped make the now State License test. He was a member of the Northwest Polygraph Examiner Association and a past President and Secretary/Treasurer. He continued running Polygraph and doing Private Investigation after retirement in 1995, working as Wicklund Polygraph Investigations. Retiring after his stroke in 2016.

 He never took his Cop hat off; always the same at work or home.

 He loved his family, hunting, packing in on his mule for elk hunting, fishing and watching his son Tom, Team Rope. He loved his draft mule, horses, cows, dogs, cats and all animals.

 Floyd is survived by his wife Pat Wicklund, son Tom Wicklund and his wife Kris and their son, TJ Wicklund; sister-in- law Grace McWhorter and her 3 children, Sue, Debra and Bill Reed and his wife Gloria and son Liem, plus a special extra son Kenny Bates. And all the Swedish Relatives.

 Please share memories of Floyd in his Guestbook.