Kaz Nowak

Kazmer Nowak passed away very suddenly on June 6, 2023. His last moments were spent at

the St Boniface General Hospital with his wife and family at his bedside.

Kazimierz was born in Pine River, Manitoba on December 10,1925. He was the second son of

Bronislaw and Francisca Nowak. He was predeceased by his parents, infant sister Yanina,

older brother Stanley and sister Helen King.

He leaves to mourn his passing his loving wife of 71 years Bernice, and their three children,

Son Brian, daughter Valerie, son-in-law Reid Minish, daughter Gail, and son-in-law David

Chimilar.

He also leaves his four grandchildren, Melissa Kristofferson and husband Kirk, Brittney Terleski

and husband Eric, Christopher Anger and wife Caedence, Alanna Gerardy and husband

Matthew.

Kaz was blessed with five great grandchildren. Kellan, Kian and Kieran Kristofferson, Finley

and Adalyn Terleski. His sixth great grandchild was born a month after his passing, Layla

Gerardy.

Surviving Kaz is his brother Edward, brother-in-law Barry Leslie and wife Marlene, his sistersin-law Babs Leslie and Mary Nowak. His numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and

nephews will have fond memories of Kaz.

Kaz’s family moved to Swan River in 1927. There, his father established a blacksmith shop and

built their family home on Crescent Drive. He received all his schooling in Swan River.

He left home at age 16 and travelled with a buddy to Fort William, Ontario where they worked

at Canada Car assembling Hawker Hurricane airplanes for the war effort. He joined the

Canadian Armed Forces the week of his eighteenth birthday. He performed his basic training at

Camp Orillia and his advanced training on the Sherman Tank at Camp Borden. He was given

the rank of Trooper H1850. He shipped out to England on the troop ship New Amsterdam and

arrived in Blackdowns just as the war ended. He was assigned to guard duty and guarded

German prisoners of war in Belgium. He signed up for duty in the Pacific, but as the war

ended, he did not see see duty there. He received his honorary discharge and returned home.

He earned his Journeyman papers as a Sheet Metal worker while training at the Manitoba

Institute of Technology in Winnipeg. He apprenticed in Winnipeg and returned to Swan River in

1947. He was employed at Riddell's Plumbing and Heating where he worked for the next 42

years.

On July 9, 1952, Kaz married Bernice Leslie in the Knox United Church in Minitonas. Together,

they built their home on Crescent Drive beside his family home. There they raised their children

and lived together for 70 years.

During his life, Kaz was very involved in his community. He was a volunteer fireman for 45

years, retiring as the Deputy Chief in 1996. He belonged to the Elks Lodge and worked his way

through all their committee Chairs, and was made a Life member. He was also a member of the

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 39 and held a Life Membership there after 70 years of service.

Kaz was a Life member of the Swan Valley Agriculture Society where he served on the Rodeo

committee for years. He rounded out his community involvement as a member of St. Andrew

United Church. Kaz preferred to be known as first a “worker” and in every organization, he was

always ready to serve his community.

After retiring from Riddell’s in 1993 he started his own business, Valley Wide Fire Extinguisher

Service. He and Bernice ran this business for 19 years, only giving it up when his mobility

would no longer allow him to perform his job safely.

On December 12, 2022, he was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Medal for his years of service

and community involvement. He was very proud to receive this honour at the Manitoba

Legislature from The Honourable Lt. Governor Anita Neville and Premier Heather Stephanson.

Kaz loved his family. He enjoyed his cabin at Wellman Lake, gardening, fishing, and travelling

with Bernice. He spent his quiet time reading, doing his Word search and playing Solitaire on

his I-pad until the time of his passing.

His last two years were physically difficult as he endured pain from his fractured hip and his

mobility was restricted. He missed his home and friends in Swan River greatly when they

moved to an Assisted Living Residence in Winnipeg.

Important to Kaz would be knowing that he had a life well lived and that he will be missed by

many. While we miss him greatly, we know he can journey on now with no pain and Rest in

Peace until we are together again.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kaz Nowak, please visit our floral store.