Funeral Mass for Roy Gaikowski, 80, of Peever, SD will be held on Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 10:30 AM at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Sisseton, SD with the Rev. Fr. Andy Knopp Celebrant. Music provided by Butch Felix, Cindy Marohl, Billy Kohl, Mary Beth Kirk, and Sandi Jaspers. Pallbearers will be Kenny Allessi, Larry Allessi, Sean Shindelbower, Gabriel Fischer, Aaron Pond, Darin Pond, Richard Varns Jr., and Austin Gaikowski. Honorary Pallbearers will be all of Roy's Family, Friends, The Peever Community and the Korean War Veterans. Interment will be in the Veteran Section Sisseton Cemetery, Sisseton, SD, with military rites by the Otto-Quande-Renville American Legion Post #50 and Fort Sisseton VFW Post #3342. There will be visitation on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at St. Peter's Catholic Church from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with a 7:00 PM Rosary-Prayer Service. There will be visitation on Friday, March 26, 2010 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with a Wake Service at 7:00 P.M. at St. Peter's. There will be visitation one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday. Dinner will be served at the Peever Community Center, Peever, SD following the service at the Cemetery. Roy Joseph Gaikowski was born by Webster, SD on March 14, 1930 to James and Mary (Grajczyk) Gaikowski. He grew up and attended school in Webster through the eighth grade. They moved to the Sisseton Area and he helped his dad on the farm near Dry Wood Lake. Roy entered the United States Army in October 1951 and served until October 1953, where he served as an engineer. He received the United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Roy was united in marriage to Bernadine Eagle on October 7, 1966 at St. Catherine's Catholic Church. They had seven children. Roy enjoyed playing solitaire, tinkering around outside, going to casinos, seeing all his friends at Char's Café, driving around, auction sales, he played in a band with his brothers, he took pride in all his children and grandchildren. Roy worked for The City of Peever for the water and street department for many years. He was a volunteer firefighter, and he mowed the Peever Cemetery for thirty three years. He loved to watch MASH, the Andy Griffith Show, and All in the Family. He liked to tease and laugh, and had a great sense of humor, liked to dance, and cook breakfast for Bernie, he liked Fords, NASCAR racing, and he planted a big garden. He was a member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church and liked to attended the Catholic Indian Conference. He listened to Old –Time country western and polka music, esp. the Tom Wilson Sunday Morning Program. Roy passed away on March 23, 2010 at Sanford Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD.
Roy is survived by his wife, Bernadine Gaikowski of Peever, SD; his mother, Mary Gaikowski of Sisseton, SD; seven children, Dawn Eagle of Sisseton, SD, Sharon and Lance Pond of Sisseton, SD, Morris Gaikowski of Sioux Falls, SD, Verna and Steve Francisco of Litchfield, MN, Rose Gaikowski of Sisseton, SD, Mary Gaikowski of Sisseton, SD, Gary and Angie Gaikowski of Sisseton, SD; adopted children Jean Thue of Brookings, SD, Rhonda and Mike LaBatte of Sisseton, SD, and Christine and Roger Irwin of Yankton, SD; one sister, Genevieve and Ken Schoenborn of Milaca, MN; two brothers, Frank and Irene Gaikowski of Minden, NV and James and Colleen Gaikowski of Andover, MN; twenty five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
Roy was preceded in death by his father, James and one sister, Irene.