Josef Gaydusek was a Czech born September 5, 1861 in Boguslavice, Moravia, Austria (now the Czech Republic). Before transferring to the Czech school in Prerove, he studied at the German gymnasium of Kromiriz. Gaydusek prepared for the priesthood at the seminary in Louvain, Belgium and was ordained in June 1886. After having spent a short period of time in Europe visiting his parents and family, he sailed to the United States to start his priestly career.

In 1887, Gaydusek was assigned to work in the Leavenworth Diocese of Kansas. 1889 saw him organizing the Polish parish of St. Joseph in Kansas City. He was also responsible for building the first church there and for ministering to the Slovaks and Czechs in the community (who, in time, separated from the Poles and, with the help of Ks. Gaydusek, formed their own parish – Sts. Cyril and Methodius).

From Kansas, Gaydusek traveled to Milwaukee where he worked for a short period of time before leaving for the eastern part of the United States. There he first answered the call of the bishop of Pittsburgh, PA and was assigned to St. Joseph Slovak Parish. By 1894, he was in the Diocese of Buffalo, NY where he first served as assistant at St. Stanislaus Parish and later as pastor of the recently organized St. Casimir Parish. His name is also found in the records of New York City's St. Valentine Parish.

In 1901, Gaydusek left the eastern part of the country to return to the Midwest. Records show his having been pastor of St. Luke Parish in Veselyville, SD until 1904 (at which time he was assigned the pastorate of St. Adalbert Parish in Wehpeton, SD). Because of his abilities and hard work, he was made a monsignor. He remained at St. Adalbert Parish until his death on October 31, 1915.