Michael Sajec

Michael Dean Sajec passed away peacefully on February 24th, 2023, after courageously fighting through Alzheimer’s for 5 years. He was surrounded and held by his wife and loving family as he took his last breaths and passed on into the next life to be with his parents and other loved ones who have passed on. Michael, also known as Mike, was born on January 25th, 1961, in Two Harbors, Minnesota to June and Frank Sajec. During Michael’s younger years, his family lived in many different states due to his father’s line of work. His favorite place was a house on Puget Sound in Washington that had a private dock with a boat. Michael told many stories of going fishing in the boat with his dog. Michael and his brothers, Pat and Jeff, were mischief makers. They would shoot out the glass in streetlights with their BB guns and even once burned down a cornfield after smoking in it. In 1974, Michael’s family moved to Granger, Utah where he attended Jr. High and Granger High School and made many lifelong friends. This last January many of those friends celebrated his 62nd birthday with him, and what joy and happiness that bought him. Michael loved cars and while in high school he had a white Plymouth Barracuda and a red Camaro. He loved these cars and so did the girls. He also loved going to car shows even when his disease got worse. He always wanted to go to a NASCAR event and in February 2020, he and his wife fulfilled that dream and attended a NASCAR race in Las Vegas. Michael had so much fun and had the biggest smile on his face. After graduating high school in 1980, Michael worked at several different jobs and then decided to attend BYU Hawaii along with several of his good friends. He graduated in June 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management. He loved Hawaii and visited there many times. Before Michael lost the ability to make his own decisions, he requested that his ashes be scattered in Hawaii. In May of this year, his family will scatter his ashes on his favorite beach in his memory. After receiving his degree, Michael worked in many different assisted living facilities and retirement communities as the director of dining services. He later worked as a manager at a Marriot Residence Inn. Michael had the gift of instantly connecting with others and loved talking to people wherever he went. He was very witty and made people laugh, even in the later stages of his disease. Michael loved unconditionally and sought to lift others and brighten their day. He was a great example of selflessness, kindheartedness, and goodness. In 2009, Michael moved back to Utah and worked on the security team at LDS Hospital. This is where he met the love of his life, Trudy. Trudy caught Michaels’s eye the moment he saw her for the first time. He became Trudy’s secret admirer and would do kind and thoughtful acts of service for her without her knowing. After Trudy found out it was him, they began dating and fell in love with each other. After a year of dating, they were married on February 14th, 2015. Michael and Trudy spent their time together doing fun activities. They traveled to many places, went camping, fishing, hiking, soaking in hot springs, and bowling. They also would go on dates to the local second-hand stores and yard sales to buy things that they could resale. Michael had an eye for “treasure” and enjoyed seeking out valuables. Appropriately, 2 of his favorite shows were American Pickers and Pawn Stars. Michael was a devoted, loving, and caring husband. He loved fiercely, was full of life, and was always there by Trudy’s side helping and supporting her in everything she did. One of his favorite things to do to show Trudy his love was to bring her flowers every week. He had no children of his own, but he loved and treated Trudy’s children, Jordan, Erika, and Megan as his own. He was especially proud and grateful to call Jordan’s son Jace his grandson. He had a sweet tooth and loved buying ice cream, soda, and pizza for the family on the weekends. Even when he couldn’t drive anymore, he would always give Jordan his card so that he could buy those things for the family. After 3 years of marriage, Michael was diagnosed with the devastating disease of Alzheimer’s. Even when the disease had taken over his body, Michael wanted to help Trudy and be by her side. The love he had for Trudy was pure and in the last moments of his life, he fought to let her know of that love. Trudy went to kiss him and with all the strength he could muster, he puckered up his lips to kiss her. In another moment, he lifted his hand to grab her hand and rub it with his thumb to comfort her as tears came from his eyes. Michael was a genuine one-of-a-kind man that left a positive mark on everyone he met. We miss him so much but find comfort in knowing that he is in “perfect peace” and no longer suffering. Michael is preceded in death by his father Frank, mother June, and brother Pat. He is survived by his wife Trudy; his stepchildren Jordan Shepherd, Erika (Lane) Moyes, and Megan Shepherd; his grandson Jace Shepherd; his brother Jeff (Kim) Sajec; and his sister Pam (Roger) Chase. We extend our deepest gratitude to the staff at Intermountain Homecare & Hospice who helped care for Michael so that he could spend his final days in the comfort of his own home. We also extend our gratitude to our family, friends, and neighbors who helped us over the years and have provided us comfort in the last few days.