Ryan Gaikowski

WAUBAY- Ryan Gaikowski 53, of Waubay died on Thursday, July 1, 2010 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 A.M. Tuesday July 6, 2010 at the Waubay School Gymnasium with Fr. David Axtmann officiating. Burial will be in the Waubay Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday 5-8 P.M. with a wake service at 7:30 P.M. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Waubay. Ryan Raymond Gaikowski was born on December 8, 1956 to Raymond and Bonnie (Town) Gaikowski at Peabody Memorial Hospital in Webster, South Dakota. At the time the family made their home north of Ortley. He was baptized and confirmed at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Waubay. He attended Waubay Public Schools and graduated from high school in 1975. After graduation he farmed with his parents and brother, Chuck. On October 26, 1991 he was united in marriage to Missy Kallas at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Waubay. After their marriage the couple lived on the Gaikowski family farm where they continued to farm with his brother. They were engaged in dairy, beef and grain farming. To this union four children were born, Jordan, Becca, Heather and Brianna. He was actively engaged in farming at the time of his death. Ryan was an active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church where he was a long-time usher and served on the Parish Council. He enjoyed four wheeling, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing and making and selling his special walleye rigs. He also enjoyed the shooting sports and 4-H activities with his children and their sports activities. He was an avid sports spectator. He loved being with people, having coffee with family and friends and was always available to lend a helping hand. Ryan passed away on Thursday, July 1, 2010 at Rochester, Minnesota at the age of 53 years, 5 months and 7 days. Survivors include his wife, Missy of Waubay; his four children, Jordan, Becca, Heather and Brianna of Waubay, SD; his mother, Bonnie Gaikowski of Waubay, SD; two brothers, Chuck (Sandy) Gaikowski of Waubay, SD and Bill (Bonnie) Gaikowski of Watertown, SD; one sister, Chere’ (Scott) Bierschbach of Webster, SD; his in-laws, Alvin (Nancy) Kallas of Leola, SD; a brother-in-law, Mike (Jodi) Kallas of Leola, SD; and three sisters-in-law, Mary (Tom) Schumacher of Rapid City, SD, Carrie (Devon) Kwasniewski of Florence, SD and Amy (Chad) Podhradsky of Howard, SD. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, father and a nephew.