Born: December 26, 1927
Tasov, Moravia, Czechoslovakia

Died: December 20, 2021
Extendicare, Fort Macleod, Alberta

 

“Work well done, and blessed with a long, enjoyable life.”

“To know him was to love him.”

 

In 1930, Steve’s parents Mike and Barbara saw a valuable opportunity for land ownership and a better life in Canada, and so made the decision to move with their children Steve and Ann, from the village of Tasov, (southern Moravia, Czechoslovakia) to Chin, Alberta, working for a local farmer named John Cassidy and later for the C.P.R. Finally, after 6 long years of labouring, they were able to establish Gajdostik Farms, based in Coaldale. From there, they kept looking ahead, observing the land market, buying, working, and selling land in Readymade, Pincher Creek, and Orton, even while keeping their first parcel in Readymade. Finally, in 1968 the family bought the old Baker Farm in Nemiscam, with Steve as president. With his wife Louise (married in Coaldale in 1959) and their two children Allan and Marilyn, Gajdostik Farms performed well as a company, overcame the hardships of agriculture during the 1980s, and finally greatly exceeded everyone’s expectations. Steve and Louise were praised by southern Alberta bankers and business people during those years. Steve even remained a humble, approachable man, and was much loved in the area. When not working, Steve loved taking the whole family to the Beauvais Lake cabin, and went sightseeing and fishing with Louise in Kaslo, BC.

In 2000 he and Louise built a retirement home on an acreage near Readymade; they had a lot of fun not only reconnecting with their 1930's and 40's friends, but help make the Readymade Fifty Plus Club, with its new centre, the lively club it is today. Steve and Louise chose not to travel far from home - they had enjoyed their honeymoon car trip down the coast of Oregon- preferring instead to hear all of Marilyn’s travel stories when she came home on holidays from teaching in Japan. Steve continued to live on the acreage, even after Louise’s death in 2010, and was still there after his 90th birthday. He moved to Fort Macleod Extendicare in April, 2018 where he kept busy reading farming and gardening magazines and the daily newspaper. He even continued to participate in Readymade Fifty Plus Club events, go out on sightseeing outings riding in Marilyn’s wheelchair van, and relax on the patio at Broxburn Cafe. Right to the very end of his life, Steve could sleep well at night, knowing that he finished what he and Louise set out to do: to leave behind a lasting legacy of two farming companies, securing a future for his children, and also knowing that his own parents were able to retire comfortably before him.

To look back on Steve and Louise’s lives, and those of their parents - from the beginning to the very end, by those who knew and worked with them - is to see the dogged toughness, sheer determination to survive, but also of their sacrifice, good health, luck, intellect, success, gratitude, generosity, kindness and faith. What a legacy!  

Thank you, Dad, for your wise planning and your strong hands that gave us everything we have today.

Steve is survived by his son Allan (Bev) and family, daughter Marilyn (Calvin), his sister Ann and family, and a younger sister Rose and family as well as many additional relatives. 

Steve was predeceased by his beloved wife Louise, parents Barbora (Barbara) and Matej (Mike), brother-in-law Ben, and his younger brother Frank.

A Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 pm, on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 The family invites those who wish to watch the service VIA livestream to do so by going  https://www.fhwebsites.org/ymb/obituary/StepanSteve-Gajdostik  and scrolling to the bottom of Steve's obituary. 

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am, on Thursday, December 30, 2021. The family invites those who wish to watch the service VIA livestream to do so by going to www.mbfunerals.com, and scrolling to the bottom of Steve's obituary.

Due to covid-19 restrictions on in-person attendance, those wishing to attend can RSVP the family (Steve’s daughter Marilyn or son Allan) or the funeral home at (403)328-2361.

The family thanks everyone in the community who gave kind attention to Steve and assisted in any way in making his later years comfortable and enjoyable. Thank you to Dr. Frick, Dr. Ikuta, all the hospital physicians and everyone at Coaldale Home Care (AHS), including our in-home caregivers who made it possible for Steve to stay in his own home on his acreage. Thanks also to Dr. Beekman, other physicians in Fort Macleod, and special thanks to Ron, Curtis, Dolly and Bernadette at Extendicare. 

In memory of Steve we suggest doing something kind for a senior. Think about Steve when you tour the countryside or plant a beautiful flower garden.

Let’s have a more relaxed celebration in future when it is safe to do so.