Gary Mesiatowsky

It is with incredible sadness that we announce the passing of Gary Mesiatowsky. Gary passed away on Thursday, August 20, 2026 at the age of 61 following a brief battle with brain cancer. Gary was born in Calgary and raised in Irricana, Alberta. Gary was a beloved son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. 

He was predeceased by his parents, Gerd (2009) and Marilyn (2002). He is lovingly remembered by his sister, Annette (Trevor) Poffenroth; niece and nephews, Ashley (Adrian), Jager and Slater; and his loyal companion and fishing partner, Ratchet. 

Gary also leaves behind many beloved extended family members, including his aunts, uncles, and cousins with whom he shared a lifetime of cherished memories. His extended family held a special place in his life, and the bonds formed through family, shared experiences, laughter, and countless stories will remain part of the legacy he leaves behind. 

Gary and his family had strong connections to the community of Irricana. In his younger years, Gary played numerous sports, coached community teams and maintained the outdoor skating rink. He spent most of his adult life working in construction cribbing foundations. He put in many labour intensive hours working and managing crews. For the past few years, he worked at Bass Pro in the fishing department. Although retail was not his passion, he found a place where he could talk fishing all day. Like finding the end of the rainbow, Bass Pro was truly a place for him to share his passion. He spoke fondly of his coworkers and made some very dear friends.

If you were to ask Gary to describe heaven, he would have said, “floating, wading, or walking the rivers, fly rod in hand”. It was a passion that he enjoyed with family and friends by sharing his knowledge, experience and gifting his own hand tied flies. Gary took great pride in tying his own flies, using skill and experience to craft each one. During fishing season, he would be on the river, enjoying the peace of the water, the beauty of the outdoors, and the company of those he loved. On occasion, there would be friendly competitions to see who could outfish the other. When the fishing season slipped away and the rivers were quiet, Gary was organizing his supplies, exploring new materials, and tying flies for his next days on the river.

Gary faced his illness with courage and even during his most difficult days, he always remained concerned with how his family and friends were doing. The professionals who cared for Gary during his illness, experienced his gratitude and kind heart. His caregivers affectionately described him as a “big teddy bear”. Gary took the time to learn their names and always thanked them for the care they provided to make him comfortable.

Gary will be remembered for his connection to family, his years of hard work, and the friendships and memories he created along the way. At 61, his passing represents the loss of a life that still had many chapters left to write and many fishing lines to cast. Remember the conversations, the laughter, the hard work, and the ordinary moments that are even more precious to us now. May his memory bring comfort to those who knew and loved him.

In place of traditional condolences, we would love for you to share a favourite memory, funny story, or photo to highlight the impact Gary had on those around him. Please share in the comments below. We will gather your memories and photographs to help preserve and celebrate Gary’s life—a life lived fully, but taken from us far too soon.

If you would like to honour Gary, first cast a fishing line into a river and then please consider making a donation in his name to the Alberta Cancer Foundation or to St. Marguerite Dulcina Hospice where Gary and his family received exceptional care. We would also like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to the Arthur Child Cancer Centre and Strathmore Hospital medical staff for their dedication and compassion.

We will be having a Celebration of Life on Friday, September 11, 2026. For details, please connect with a friend or family member.