Myron Gulka

Myron Gulka passed away peacefully at the Red Deer Regional Hospital at the age of 83 years after a brief fight with cancer.

He leaves to mourn his daughters, Cathy (Dustin) Brodner, Debbie (Ryan) Whitton and Jodi Gulka; his granddaughter, Elizabeth (Tyson) Cayer; his siblings, Orest (Kathy), Eugene (Stella), Jerome, Murray and Dianne (Myron) Gulka-Tiechko; sister-in-law, Beth Gulka and numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his wife, Brenda; parents, Steven and Lena Gulka; stepmother, Mabel and brother, Robert.

Myron grew up in Preeceville, Saskatchewan where he loved swimming and fishing with his brothers and friends in the many rivers and lakes nearby. After high school, he spent a few years in Alberta working in the banking industry before heading to the University of Saskatchewan to complete his Bachelor of Commerce degree. Then he moved to Calgary where he met the love of his life, Brenda Chapman. They married in 1967 and before long, had started a family, moved into a house and became part of a wonderful neighbourhood where kids could play on the street, people looked out for one another, and everyone became friends. By 1971 they were a family of five with three daughters. From the beginning, Myron and Brenda, inspired by their parents, shared a love of gardening. They built a large rock garden by hand in their backyard, which their girls spent endless hours enjoying. Myron loved working with his hands building things. He joined his brother-in-law, Bob Price doing carpentry while working at Amoco in Calgary. He took his girls to see the Stampede parade from the office tower, and to watch fireworks at Scotsman’s Hill.

In 1977 Myron and Brenda purchased a grocery store in Donalda, Alberta. They poured their souls into raising their family, having fun fishing and camping, exploring the Battle River region and running a successful small store. Their garden in Donalda featured the rocks and fossils brought back from their many weekends spent rock hunting in the coulees with their girls. Their ability to connect to the local families was the key to their success. Myron loved being part of the Lions Club and partaking in community events like Klondike days, bingo, and parades. He joined the curling club as well as Junior Forest Wardens and had fun taking his girls to both.

In 1984 they sold the store and purchased McCools Custom Framing and Crafts in Red Deer. They learned many things and became quite skilled in the arts. Myron painted, framed pictures and did the books and Brenda did needle work, stretched canvases and ran the store. They held cake decorating, paper tole, painting and other art classes, met lots of local people and gained more friends.

Myron’s love of country blossomed into a cross Canada adventure for the whole family including his mother-in-law, Dorothy Chapman, in 1985. It was a six week epic journey from Alberta to Newfoundland and back across the upper United States. They saw all the legislative buildings and visited many sites that showcased the beauty and diversity of this great country.

In 1992 they decided to sell the store and their house and went on a 25th anniversary adventure, where they had the time of their lives exploring Australia and New Zealand. When they came back, they looked at moving to BC and other Alberta places, but chose Red Deer which had become their home. Myron began working as a counsellor for the Federal Business Development Bank helping young entrepreneurs get their start. Over the next three years, he worked in retail home stores, did construction work on a pub, helped at the Visitor and Convention Bureau and volunteered at curling events like the Brier.

In 1996 they were thrilled when they found out they would be grandparents. Elizabeth was born in April and she was a shining little light in their life. They enjoyed taking her camping and fishing, playing games and sending her on scavenger hunts.

1997 saw Myron branch out on his own again delivering books to schools across central Alberta. He loved the driving, interaction with all the teachers and students, and it gave him summers off so he could spend time doing his favourite things like fishing, gardening, camping and stargazing. A heart attack in 2002 forced him to retire early but that didn’t hold him back long. He reignited his artistic side by doing bark carving, making spirit faces and cute fairy house wall hangings. They joined the Red Deer Garden Club, began volunteering at local events, volunteered at the Kerrywood Nature Centre and started exploring Canada and having fun with friends. He helped organize the flower show and plant exchange for the Garden Club, even winning a ribbon for his beautiful gladioli. 

Retirement was filled with lots of camping, card games, board games, garden tours, rodeos, cowboy poetry, Highland games, fishing, and annual trips to Saskatchewan to visit family. He tended to his amazing home and community garden plots which kept their freezers full all winter. He was a very successful gardener.

His sense of humour was with him until the end. One of his favourite lines was when someone asked if they could get him anything he would always say “a million dollars”.

Myron is now reunited with Brenda and we are sure they are busy tending to their garden, driving the countryside and picking berries. We miss you.

If you wish, in lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Red Deer Regional Hospital.