STANLEY PETER NICKARZ (STAN)

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STANLEY PETER NICKARZ
July 30, 1942 - January 24, 2022

On a bitterly cold Winnipeg winter evening, in the arms of his daughters, Stanley Peter Nickarz passed gracefully and with dignity into eternal peace.
Stanley, Stan, Dad, Stan-the-Man, Stash, Stashiw or Mr. Nickarz - he had a few names - came into the world, along with his twin brother Bill, on July 30, 1942, at Concordia Hospital in East Kildonan. The eldest child of Stanislaus and Lily (née Ezinicki), Stan was like a pint-sized rocket as a boy, constantly energetic and fast as lightening. He played, and excelled at, every sport possible, particularly hockey at the East End Community Club. From the start, Stan was driven to win and most often did. His determination and drive also fuelled his skills as a student and trumpet player. He strived to be a well-rounded individual and succeeded.
Like many of the War Baby generation, Stan, Bill and their younger brother Jim didn't know their father until he returned home from Europe after the Second World War. Getting to know, and living with, Stan Sr. was an adjustment for the three little ones after being cared for by their mother, and baba and gigi Helen and Frank Ezinicki, at their home in Elmwood. But Stan Sr. and Lil and the boys carried on and settled at 224 Trent Ave.
Stan began his education at St. Alphonsus School and eventually transferred to Prince Edward Elementary. He then attended Melrose Junior High and went on to graduate from Miles Macdonell Collegiate in 1960. His grade 12 yearbook quote sums up his high school career: "Sturdy Stan is the sports rep. of XIIA. Goes for hockey in a great big way. Hopes someday to be a B.A. Probable Fate: Poet Laureatte at the Java Shop."
Shortly after graduating, Stan's professional music career took off when local polka king Mike Domish recruited him to play in the Mike Domish Orchestra. By that time, Stan had been playing the trumpet with professional bands in "licensed establishments" for a couple of years. One night, Mike made a special trip to see him play and hired the 18-year-old on the spot. Stan managed to balance being a musician, and full-time student at United College, and graduated with a BA in 1963. He continued to play the hotel and wedding circuits with the orchestra until the mid-1970s (while teaching full-time) when his first wife Paulette said "Enough Stanley. It's time to stay home."
Right after graduating from United College, Stan pursued his B.Ed. at the University of Manitoba. At that time in Manitoba, with the baby boomer population reaching school age, teachers were very much in demand. Instead of completing his last year of teacher training, Stan took a job at Pine Falls Collegiate. (He graduated with his B.Ed. in 1972). He taught there just long enough to meet a beautiful nurse's assistant named Paulette Yacyshyn from Saskatchewan, who worked at Pine Falls General Hospital, one night at a party. They dated for a few months and married in July 1966 after Stan finished his first year of teaching at Gordon Bell High School in Winnipeg.
Securing his post at Gordon Bell was another example of Stan being hired on-the-spot. He drove 75 miles - in his Plymouth Valiant station wagon - from Pine Falls to Winnipeg in a snowstorm to interview for the position with a Winnipeg No. 1 School Division superintendent. After Stan accepted the job offer, the superintendent told Stan he had decided to hire him the moment he saw his car pull into the parking lot because anyone who had the nerve to drive that distance in a near blizzard would have no problem teaching junior high school students.
Stan and Paulette were blessed with three little girls: Krystyl in 1967; Kara in 1969; and Koralee in 1972. He continued teaching in Winnipeg School Division No. 1 schools and the family eventually settled in East Kildonan on Kimberly Avenue, very close to the neighbourhood in which he grew up. It was a nice life but wasn't perfect. Stan suffered with bipolar disorder, alcoholism and the death of his daughter Kara. Despite this, his tenacity, determination and faith prevailed. He achieved sobriety shortly before marrying his second wife, Aurora Casem. They were blessed with Stanley Michael in 1989.
Stan was intent on retiring before he reached 60. He did so at 55 and fulfilled his dream of living in California. Eventually he, Aurora and Stanley Michael moved back to Winnipeg. Stan lived out his days maintaining their rental properties, cutting lawns, shoveling snow and spending time with his family. He was also active in Winnipeg's AA speaker circuit and sponsored many individuals in the program. An accomplished public speaker, Stan's style was succinct and incisive. He often used humour in his speeches and one memorable toast-to-the-bride included a ball point pen and a roll of toilet paper.
Stan is survived by his daughters, Krystyl Harland (Brian) and Koralee Nickarz; wife Aurora and son Stanley Michael Nickarz; brother Bill Nickarz (Sharon) and nephews, Matthew and Andrew; brother Jim Nickarz and nephew David (Laura); and former wife Paulette Nickarz. He was predeceased by his parents, Stan Sr. and Lily; daughter Kara; and nephew James Nickarz.
His memorial service takes place Saturday, July 30 at 10:15 a.m. at Klassen Funeral Home at 1897 Henderson Hwy. (Please note service time has changed.) RSVP to Krystyl Harland via email at krystylharland@outlook.com. Please feel free to attend if you can't RSVP.

Rest in peace, dad. We love you.

Publish Date: Jul 23, 2022

STANLEY PETER NICKARZ
July 30, 1942 - January 24, 2022

A Celebration of Life for Stan will be held on Saturday, July 30 at 10:00 a.m. at Klassen Funeral Home, 1897 Henderson Hwy. Reception afterwards. Please RSVP to krystylharland@outlook.com
Full obituary to follow.

Publish Date: Jul 2, 2022

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 02, 2022, Jul 23, 2022