James Francis Sajdak

Jim Sajdak was born on Tuesday, April 16, 1946 at 8:02 AM to Marty and Dorothy Sajdak in Chicago, Illinois. He passed on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 around 7:00 AM. He grew up with his sister, Nancy (married to Tom Pantazopoulos) and younger brother, Ken (who has been partners with Keli Kringle for 13 years). They have remained close and loving right up until James' death.

As a young man, Jim considered being a Catholic priest. But that religion did not hold true to his heart. He was very much a free spirit.

Jim was a pacifist to the core. He was drafted doing basic training at Fort Leonard Wood. Jim received an honorable discharge and escaped being sent to Vietnam.

He married Kathy Karasek in 1970. They moved to British Columbia when Jim was invited to help build a house on a cliff overlooking the ocean on Quarda Island. He continued in construction. He also was a reporter for the Campbell River Courier and the Comox Free Press. He built two homes on 3-5 acres of forested land and two children were born there.  Jason (married to Kristin Hewitt) and Jessica (married to Steve Grant). Jason and Kris have two children Adam and Elizabeth (engaged to Kyle Kelley). Jessica and Steve have two children, Alison and Clayton.

Jim did tree planting and stream renovation on smaller islands between Vancouver Island and the mainland. He sailed a small boat around Discovery Passage.  

Jim wrote a novel about hippie life which he never managed to get published and many short stories. He thought Toronto would be a better place to pursue that dream so the family moved. He wrote for magazines on spec.   

He carved bone and antler jewelry and did some scrimshaw on bone and ivory.

Family in Chicago drew the family back to that area. They settled in Madison, WI. There Jim had a business (Golden Rule) doing renovations and home repairs.  

As he began feeling the aches and pains of manual labor, he decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. With that degree, he became an English as a Second Language teacher at MATC, MESLS, Oaklawn Academy and The Literacy Network. Jim loved meeting people from all over the world and was always sure to include potlucks and cultural lessons given by the students to the rest of the class.

Jim and Kathy were dive and snorkeling buddies.

Jim constructed crossword puzzles and can claim one published in the New York Times. The LA Times also accepted a lot of his puzzles along with other outlets.

As the family cribbage master, Jim always enjoyed the challenge put up by family members.

Jim made many soapstone carvings. He became an excellent artist in the area of block printing. He traded printed Tshirts with other artists in Mexico and the US West. He added water color pencil to many of the prints that cover the walls in his home. One of his final projects was finishing up an oak stump carving of a fox in a cave roughed out by international wood carver Gene Delacourt.

He read many many books by Thich Nhat Hanh and Pema Chodron. Buddhism was the path that Jim followed. He loved visiting the Deer Park Temple in Oregon, WI.

Jim learned he had Stage 4 cancer in February of 2024. He used that strong determination to stay strong and was sure he could conquer this problem too. He was giving it his best try to the end.

A Remembrance to Honor Jim will be held at the DEER PARK BUDDHIST CENTER, 4548 Schneider Drive, Oregon, at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday May 5, 2024. There will be a time for everyone to share their stories about Jim. Please bring a lawn chair and wear the T-shirt Jim gave or traded you if you were one of the lucky ones. We will gather again at Jim and Kathy’s home immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making memorials to Fritz Food Pantry At The Goodman Center or Deer Park Buddhist Temple.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420