Peter Mark Najdek

Peter Mark Najdek passed away on May 12, 2025 at his peaceful country home in rural Hillsboro, Oregon, with his loving wife, Julie, and wonderful private hospice caregiver, Marilyn, by his side. The last days of his life were made as comfortable as possible by the outstanding team at Kaiser Permanente Hospice, notably, nurse Toni and social worker Danielle.

Peter was born in Portland, Oregon on November 7, 1962, to his parents Karl Najdek and Mihalina Jurasek Najdek.

Peter was raised in the Catholic faith and served as an altar boy at the historic St. Patrick Catholic Church in Northwest Portland, he attended Benson High School and graduated from the class of 1981.

Peter started working when he was very young, having learned an excellent work ethic from his parents, who immigrated from the former Yugoslavia, through Germany during WWII, and then into the United States via Ellis Island in the early 1950’s. He gravitated toward working in the produce departments of grocery stores in Portland, including Sheridan Fruit Company and Corno Foods. Peter later joined four of his brothers and became a partner of Apple Produce. Soon the name was changed to Apple Foods, a wholesale food distributor serving restaurants in Oregon and SW Washington since 1988.

In his early 20’s, Peter ran the light show and served as a roadie for a couple of local ‘hair bands’ in the 1980’s, most notably, ‘Outrage: The Rage of Rock ‘n Roll’. Peter inherited his mother’s green thumb and loved gardening, especially planning, planting, and watching things grow. Peter loved listening to 80’s ‘hair band’ rock music at full volume and drinking a few Budweisers while he gardened. He loved living on his rural acreage and riding his tractor and lawn tractor. Home Depot and Lowe’s were his home away from home. He enjoyed watching home and garden and true crime shows on TV in his leisure time.

Peter met his wife through his sister Mary Ann, with whom Julie was a co-worker and friend. One day, Peter visited the office to have lunch with Mary Ann, Julie came along, and the sparks flew!! The couple were married on December 31,1988 in Portland, Oregon.

Peter was an easygoing man, known and well-loved for his (sometimes naughty) sense of humor. He loved to laugh and tease in a good-natured way with a twinkle in his eye. He didn’t sweat the small stuff and enjoyed a simple, peaceable life with his wife. No one ever met Peter that didn’t love him, his humor, and his kindness.

Peter would want to be remembered as a hard-working man, a wonderful husband and provider with an easygoing personality, who loved to laugh and loved rock ’n roll! In the last days of his life, Peter embraced his faith in the one true God and received the peace that only the Holy Spirit can provide as he breathed his last breath here on earth.

Peter is survived by: his wife of 36 years, Julie Stapleton Najdek; his siblings, Rozalia Sanders (Jim), Adam Najdek (Mardell), Catherine Najdek (Woitek), Anton Najdek (Marlene), Mary Ann Najdek, Karl Najdek, John Najdek (Patty), Frank Najdek, and Stephen Najdek (Ronni); mother-in law and father-in-law, Karen and Gary Liedtke; sister-in-law, Lisa Liedtke Sfetku, followed by 25 nieces and nephews; 13 great-nieces and nephews and counting.

Peter is preceded in death by his mother and father, Karl Najdek and Mihalina Jurasek Najdek; brother, Joseph Najdek; nephew, Sam Najdek; Julie’s father, William ‘Bill’ Stapleton and his wife Ruthie; Julie’s sister Christi Stapleton Ousley and her husband Ned Ousley.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR 97229. Followed by a Graveside Service, on our grounds at The Garden Mausoleum from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR 97229. A reception and sharing memories will occur Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR 97229.