NAAA and the ag aviation industry are saddened by the loss of Joseph “Joe” Varjassy, a longtime member. Varjassy, 75, passed away July 18 in Fort Myers, Florida, after a six-year battle with cancer and other health issues.
Joe retired as proud pilot who owned and operated Prairie Aerial Applicators Ltd. for 38 years. The aerial application business originated in Regina in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan until 1984 when Joe built a private airstrip in Riceton, 28 miles southeast of Regina. Joe was one of the founding members of the Saskatchewan Aerial Applicators Association in 1975 and the Canadian Aerial Applicators Association in 1986. He served as both organizations’ presidents at various stints. Joe joined NAAA in 1985 and was a familiar face at NAAA’s annual convention each year. He went through the NAAA/Syngenta Leadership Training Program in 2009–2010.
Flying was Joe’s passion and he enjoyed the many people he met because of his business. He was proud of his accomplishments and enjoyed traveling and meeting friends at the many aerial application conventions he attended over the years. When you met Joe, he considered you a friend. He was loyal and kept in contact with many over the years. Joe impacted many lives and will be remembered as ready to tell a joke, “politically correct or not.”
For many years he spent his winters in Florida and summers in Canada. Joe loved living in Florida and pursuing his second great passion of boating. He relished working on and cleaning his boat, intent on it always being ready to take family and friends out for a tour. That’s just the kind of guy he was.
Joe leaves behind his wife of 35 years, Emily, daughter Shannon (Bill), sons Ryan (Kim), Josh (Nikki), Eliaja (Angie) and Isaac, and 11 grandchildren. Joe’s full obituary is available here.