Steven Palm

After a hard-fought battle with Parkinson’s disease, Steve passed away on July 2, 2026, at the age of 72. Steve was a fun-loving man with a mischievous twinkle in his eye and a razor sharp wit. While he had an accomplished career as an electrical engineer, his true loves were his wife, Karen, his family, and woodworking.

Steve was born on June 20, 1954 to Dan and Betty Palm, and was raised in Northfield, Minnesota with his two sisters Becky and Kris. He moved to Columbia, Maryland in 1984 to pursue a career in engineering, where he would live the rest of his life. Above all, Steve loved his family and was incredibly proud of his children. Among many "Steve the Peeve" sayings and lessons, he often told his kids how wonderful love is. He was happiest when the family was together at Deep Creek Lake or the beach or just at home, as they all were, just the week before his passing, celebrating his birthday and Father's Day.

Steve was content to be in his shop, where he spent countless hours designing and crafting cutting boards, boxes, furniture, cabinets, toys, and even a canoe. He never sold his work; instead, he gave it away to friends and family, hoping his gifts would be treasured. He was an early member of the online forum Lumberjocks, where he pioneered the homemade CNC machine, combining his mastery of software engineering, circuitry and woodworking. He also loved camping with Karen and their dog Sophie, in their little Alto trailer, spending ten years on trips exploring the East Coast, the Great Lakes, and Canada, meeting wonderful friends along the way.

Steve is survived by his wife, Karen; his children, Natalie (Jimmy) Davis, Christopher (Michelle) Palm, Eric (Lindsey) Hendren, and Tim (Kerrie) Hendren; and twelve grandchildren: Camden, Loren, Ruthie, Beckett, Brayden, Britta, Porter, Brooklynn, Anya, Anderson, Milo, and Bodie. He is also survived by his sisters, Kris Mortensen and Becky Palm-Schroetter; his nieces, Sarah, Judith, and Esther; and his nephew, Bryan.

A celebration of life will be held this fall. In lieu of flowers, please think of Steve when you - call home, grab some ice cream with a loved one (preferably chocolate), donate to your favorite charity, be kind, or tell a naughty joke.