Harry J. Shaikoski
FAIRMONT - Memorial services for Harry J. Shaikoski, 84, of Fairmont, Minn., will be held on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont. Burial will be held at Wilno Cemetery in Ivanhoe, Minn., at a later date. Visitation will be one hour prior to the time of service beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Lakeview Funeral Home.
Harry passed away on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, of lung cancer at the Lutz Wing of the Fairmont Medical Center in Fairmont, Minn.
Harry John Shaikoski was born on July 5, 1925, in Canby, Minn., the son of Alex and Cecelia (Lesewski) Shaikoski. As a young boy, Harry attended Country School District 74 near Canby.
On Sept. 28, 1949, Harry was united in marriage to Geraldine Jeske at the St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno, Minn. Together, the couple made their home on a farm near Canby until 1963 when they moved to Hendricks, Minn. In 1968, Harry and Geraldine moved to Fairmont. They were blessed with three children, Marlene, Wanda, and Neal.
Harry loved to farm and after moving from his farm in 1963, he began working for International Harvester at Hendricks, Minn. His knowledge of fixing machinery came in very handy as he also worked for Riepke Motors and Sheppard Motors as a mechanic, a welder at Redi-Haul, and managed the Eagles Club in Fairmont. From 1986 until his retirement in 2004, Harry was the caretaker and maintenance for Pheasant Run Apartments in Fairmont.
In his spare time, Harry enjoyed watching NASCAR. His love for racing spilled over into his hobby of building race cars at Fairmont Speedway. Harry was an avid Twins fan and cherished quiet time spent building model airplanes and playing cards with family and friends.
Left to cherish his memory are his children, Marlene Johnson and husband, Mike of Fairmont, Minn., Wanda Shaikoski of Welcome, Minn., and Neal Shaikoski and wife, Rhonda of Thornton, Iowa; grandchildren, Tim (Deborah) Shaikoski, Chad Shell and his fiancee, Liz Potgieter, Brent (Kristina) Shaikoski, Lane Shaikoski, Birk Shaikoski; step-grandchildren, Chris Johnson and his special friend, Stephanie Spong, Ryan (Christy) Johnson, Jeremy (Keri) Johnson; eight great grandchildren, Alex, Joshua, Claire, Kyle, Akia, Skye, Shae, and Ella; one sister, Helen (Robert) Blaszak of Three Rivers, Calif.; one brother, Donald (Patricia) Shaikoski of Fairmont, Minn.; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
In addition to his parents, Alex and Cecelia, Harry is preceded in death by an infant brother, Paul.
