RICHARD TARNASKY

1962 - 2013

Richard Warren Tarnasky, beloved companion and best friend of Joyce Klok, passed away in Taber on Monday, November 4, 2013 at the age of 51 years.
The Funeral Service was held at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Friday, November 8, 2013 at 2:00 P.M.
Besides his best friend and partner Joyce, Richard is survived by his children Devin Tarnasky of Orlando, Florida and Myla Tarnasky of Red Deer and their mother Renea. He is also survived by his parents Eric and Viola Tarnasky, sister Lori Tarnaksy, niece Jamie Lang and nephew Kenton Rabb. Richard will also be greatly missed by Joyce’s family including her daughters Janine (Marten) DeVlieger, Andrea (Jarred) Peleskey, their precious grandchildren Noah and Kabrina DeVlieger as well as Bailey the cat, his furry sidekick and friend will miss his teasing.
He was predeceased by his sister Marion Rabb in July of 2012, grandparents Berta and Wilhelm Tarnasky and Alvin and Stella Muhlbeier.
Richard was born May 29, 1962 in Medicine Hat to Eric and Viola Tarnasky. He was raised and schooled in Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan for the first ten years of his life. Even at the young age of seven he was a hard worker on the farm, helping his dad and uncles. When Richard was ten years old when the family moved to Medicine Hat where he continued his education, graduating from Medicine Hat High School in 1980. In 1993 Richard and his family moved to Barnwell where he resided until 2008 when he moved to Taber.
He worked at various businesses around Taber throughout the past twenty years and was often referred to as a “jack of all trades” - master butcher, chef, mechanic, carpenter, electrician, welder and penny pincher. You name it, he could do, build or fix anything. He even took karate with his daughter Myla where he earned his brown belt.
He loved to fish, hunt, make sausage and homemade wine. He loved being outside in the garden and enjoyed a nice cold beer while working in the yard.
Richard was a great story teller and usually by the third or fourth time you heard the story it seemed to get better. He was always willing to help a neighbor or friend and his kitchen was always open. Richard was a “culinary King” and his homemade meals, pickles, salsa were just a few of the many specialties enjoyed by all. He was a gracious host to whoever walked through his door sharing whatever he had.
Richard loved being around children and they were naturally drawn to him. Two special little ones, Noah and Kabrina miss their Grampa.
He was a cub leader for two years and an awesome teacher showing his own children to clean fish, butcher wild game and make sausage. Richard loved to show people how to do their own repairs so they didn’t have to “hire someone else” to do such a simple job.
Upon meeting Richard you might think that he was “a bit rough around the edges”, but after spending time with him it was obvious his heart was as big as his smile.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Richard’s name may be made directly to STARS, 1441 Aviation Park NE, PO Box 570, Calgary, Alberta T2E 8M7 (www.stars.ca).