Dr. Steven Gader

Steven Gader, age 65, passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly on Sunday, September 15, 2019 at his brother-in-law’s cottage, north of Wiarton, ON. Steven George Gader was born June 3, 1954 in Stafford, KS to Najie “Norman” & Joyce Gader. When Steven was eight, the family settled in the Vanguard, SK area where his dad farmed, then later in Swift Current, SK where Steve graduated from high school in 1972.

He met his future wife, Shirley, at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, SK where he was studying medicine and she was studying nursing. Steve married Shirley Ruth Martin on June 7, 1975 in Saskatoon. He graduated as an M.D. from the U of S in 1978 and they moved to Campbellton, NB, where he worked as a family practitioner with Dr. Robert Buhr. Preparation began for Steve & Shirley to serve as medical missionaries with the Mennonite Brethren Mission Services in Kajiji, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). Steve graduated with distinction from a seven-month tropical medicine course in the French language in Belgium in 1984 and they served in the Congo from 1984 – 1986.

When they returned to Canada, after one more year in family practice in Campbellton, they settled in Winnipeg, MB where Steve began his obstetrics/gynecology residency, which he completed in 1991. He was certified as a specialist in Canada and the United States. During his eleven and a half years of post-secondary education, Steve & Shirley were also growing their family and raising their three children — Colin (born 1977 in Regina, SK),  Andrea (born 1980 in Campbellton, NB) and Matthew (born 1982 in Campbellton, NB).

Steve had a God-given passion for the unborn and the mothers who carried them, and he helped mothers who were in crisis pregnancies. While in Winnipeg, he guided a post-heart transplant mother through a successful pregnancy and delivery of a healthy baby, which is high-risk. In 1992, Steve learned how to do laparoscopic surgery in Nashville, TN and taught these techniques to other specialists back in Canada. The family moved to Topeka, KS in 1995, where Steven worked with the Topeka Ob/Gyn Associates at St. Francis and Stormont-Vail Hospitals until 2000.

A man of many talents, Steve trained as a pilot when he and Shirley were first married, and learned to play the saxophone in his thirties. He took his sons on a fishing trip to Missouri in 1999.

Sadly, his career as an obstetrician/gynecologist would be brought to an abrupt halt when he suffered a severe brain injury in 2000. Though an incredibly difficult time, God saw Steve & Shirley through various trials as he rehabilitated, and she had to take on many new roles and responsibilities. Steve & Shirley experienced God’s grace and help through the people God brought into their lives through these challenging years.

Steve had always loved to paint, starting with water colours, then began working with acrylics, with their art group in Swift Current. He still loved to travel, which he thrived on, even after his injury. Steve & Shirley loved to eat out, especially going for ice cream, and ever the gentleman, Steve enjoyed spoiling his wife and the ladies in his life with flowers.

He would consider his family — his 44-year marriage with Shirley, his three children, his daughters-in-law, and his four grandchildren — his greatest accomplishment in life. Steven was a beloved husband, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, nephew and friend who will be dearly missed by all who knew him and whose lives he touched.

Steven is survived by his wife, Shirley Ruth (Martin) Gader; his children, Colin (Katherine) Gader (Tucson, AZ), Andrea Gader (Toronto, ON), and Matthew (Erica Nutt) Gader (Denver, CO); his grandchildren, Conrad Perez-Gader, Addisyn Brynn Gader, Braiden Kasai Gader, and Freya Sigourney Gader; his siblings, Debbie (Jerry) Hildebrandt,  Linda (Hugh) Henry, and David Gader; his uncles and aunts, Fred Gader, Helen Willatt, Judy Osenbaugh, and Jim Smiley; and by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Steve was predeceased by his parents, Joyce (Smiley) Gader (2011) & Najie “Norman” Gader (2012); his parents-in-law, Alvin (2003) & Ruth (2015) Martin; his brother-in-law, Dan Martin (2017); his sister-in-law, Jenny Martin (2019); and by his nephew-in-law, Jeff Robinson (2014).

The Memorial Service for Steve Gader was held on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 2:00 pm from the Church of the Open Bible, Swift Current, SK with Pastor Nick Kimpinski officiating. “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and “10,000 Reasons” were sung by the congregation under the leadership of Julie Chickoski, with Leanne McConnell serving as pianist. Special music was brought by Julie Chickoski, Leanne McConnell, and Kerry & Sheila Braun, who sang “There is a Redeemer.” Tributes were given by Shirley Gader, and Dr. Robert “Bob” & Janice Buhr. The obituary was read by Andrea Gader. A photo presentation was given by Steve’s children and grandchildren.

In memory of Steve Gader, donations made to the Saskatoon Pregnancy Options Centre would be appreciated by the family.  

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