Elma was a woman of purpose and gumption. Even in her last weeks a good day for her was getting dressed, making her bed, having her tea and breakfast, getting the laundry done if it was a Monday, and all this before 9:00 a.m. She found it very distressing when she no longer had the energy to accomplish it. She was a gifted storyteller often interjecting her wry, witty humour which evidently showed itself very early in her childhood. When that sparkle appeared in those round brown eyes a good anecdote was sure to follow.
Peacefully and gracefully Elma Nickel passed away on Monday, April 10, 2023 at the age of 92 at the Boundary Trails Health Centre.
Elma was born on June 21, 1930 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She grew up in the Rosenheim district at the homestead of her parents the Reverend Jacob A. and Anna Unrau.
She very much enjoyed her years at the Rosenheim School. Having only one brother who was sixteen years older she was very fond of her school and neighbourhood friends. Her studies were cut short when she was needed at home for caregiving, cooking and farm chores.
Mom spoke fondly of her work experience and the friends she made at the Boise Cannery in St. Catherines Ontario, where she worked 1949/50. Again, she was called home for household work and caregiving. It was at this time a special relationship began with a young man who would be her husband for fifty years. Elma married Henry Nickel of Weidenfeld in October of 1950. After living in several communities in southern Manitoba they settled for forty-two years on their farm south of Plum Coulee where they raised six children. Once the children were grown mom still felt a calling to help more people so became a Homecare worker, securing a Red River College certificate in her fifties and enjoyed a fifteen-year career in that work until her retirement.
Mom was strong in spirit and tackled life and tasks with courage, sensibility, efficiency and forever strove for a higher standard in all things. Her resourcefulness and creativity were expressed through her sewing where she created patterns out of newspaper and was not done until the last bit of ricrac was applied. Likewise, she baked cooked and canned to perfection until just months ago. Always humble she continued to critique every accomplishment for further improvement. Her gifts and talent were not limited to domestic work. She could fix just about anything mechanical or electrical. Her knowledge and efficiency were a great help to dad in his water and sewage business.
Mom had a sharp sense of humour and truly enjoyed the antics of her children, particularly the boys who fully felt the support of always having her in their corner. She enjoyed gentle adventure of all kinds, fishing, berry picking, and sports. She was an avid Blue Jays fan and could keep up with the best of them in who was who in baseball, even enjoying a Jays, Minnesota Twins game in Minneapolis with her children at the age of eighty. She was still excited about the success of the Blue Jays against the Royals less than two weeks ago.
Elma was forever engaged in meaningful mission work with a special love for the Grimsby Sewing Circle. In her early seventies with dad’s passing, mom moved to Winkler where she continued her volunteer work with the Sewing Circle and extended her work to include the MCC Thrift Store. Once she moved to Lions Manor in Winkler, she fully enjoyed the many senior activities and social events and joyfully contributed to the Christmas Shoe Boxes where she could put her creativity to good use until this past year when she was no longer physically able. Mom instilled a strong sense of volunteerism in her children through her example and by supporting them through 4-H and boys clubs. Elma was a wonderful mother, with a wisdom to nurture each of her children according to their individual natures. Mom would say she had six different ways of parenting her six children. She deeply loved each grandchild and greatgrandchild, making this evident through the stories she proudly told and retold about them. She was entirely devoted to her family and friends.
Mom was profoundly committed to her faith which clearly guided her throughout her life journey and in the last months was impatient to go to her eternal home. In June of 1950 she was baptised and became a member of the Sommerfeld Church. The Nickel family attended the Plum Coulee Sommerfeld Church. After dad’s passing mom moved to Winkler and attended the Sommerfeld Church there while she was physically able. In the last years she very much enjoyed the church services at the Buhler Centre.
Elma will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by her children: Judy Nickel, Irene and Rob Patterson, Janet and Harold Pauls, Grace Nickel and Michael Zajac, Robert Nickel, Jim Nickel and Candice McDiarmid; her grandchildren: Angela and Nathan Gerbrandt, Julia and Brad Minnis, Richard and Mandi Pauls, John Patterson and Rachael Thorleifson, Jeffrey Pauls, Joseph Nickel; and greatgrandchildren: Taylor and Lauren Minnis, Zachary, James and Riley Gerbrandt, Jacob and Cooper Pauls.
Elma was predeceased by her husband, Henry Nickel, her parents, Reverend Jacob A. and Anna Unrau (Kehler), her stepmother, Katharina Unrau (Tina Penner), brother, Peter Unrau. Also, Elma leaves to mourn sisters- in-law, Helen Wiebe and Kathy Loewen, brother-in-law, John Wiebe and dear nieces and nephews.
Our mother will be a wonderful addition to heaven.
The family thanks Dr. Miller, Dr. Lane and the Boundary Trails Health Centre nursing team, the palliative care team both in hospital and at home, the first responders, Homecare. All have been splendid in supporting us through this difficult journey and we are truly grateful for such quality professionals in southern Manitoba.
Funeral service at the Winkler Sommerfeld Church at 11:00 a.m. on April 15, 2023 with a private interment at the Weidenfeld Cemetery. Donations in memory of Elma may be made to Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation designated to the Palliative Care Unit.
Peacefully and gracefully Elma Nickel passed away on Monday, April 10, 2023 at the age of 92 at the Boundary Trails Health Centre.
Elma was born on June 21, 1930 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She grew up in the Rosenheim district at the homestead of her parents the Reverend Jacob A. and Anna Unrau.
She very much enjoyed her years at the Rosenheim School. Having only one brother who was sixteen years older she was very fond of her school and neighbourhood friends. Her studies were cut short when she was needed at home for caregiving, cooking and farm chores.
Mom spoke fondly of her work experience and the friends she made at the Boise Cannery in St. Catherines Ontario, where she worked 1949/50. Again, she was called home for household work and caregiving. It was at this time a special relationship began with a young man who would be her husband for fifty years. Elma married Henry Nickel of Weidenfeld in October of 1950. After living in several communities in southern Manitoba they settled for forty-two years on their farm south of Plum Coulee where they raised six children. Once the children were grown mom still felt a calling to help more people so became a Homecare worker, securing a Red River College certificate in her fifties and enjoyed a fifteen-year career in that work until her retirement.
Mom was strong in spirit and tackled life and tasks with courage, sensibility, efficiency and forever strove for a higher standard in all things. Her resourcefulness and creativity were expressed through her sewing where she created patterns out of newspaper and was not done until the last bit of ricrac was applied. Likewise, she baked cooked and canned to perfection until just months ago. Always humble she continued to critique every accomplishment for further improvement. Her gifts and talent were not limited to domestic work. She could fix just about anything mechanical or electrical. Her knowledge and efficiency were a great help to dad in his water and sewage business.
Mom had a sharp sense of humour and truly enjoyed the antics of her children, particularly the boys who fully felt the support of always having her in their corner. She enjoyed gentle adventure of all kinds, fishing, berry picking, and sports. She was an avid Blue Jays fan and could keep up with the best of them in who was who in baseball, even enjoying a Jays, Minnesota Twins game in Minneapolis with her children at the age of eighty. She was still excited about the success of the Blue Jays against the Royals less than two weeks ago.
Elma was forever engaged in meaningful mission work with a special love for the Grimsby Sewing Circle. In her early seventies with dad’s passing, mom moved to Winkler where she continued her volunteer work with the Sewing Circle and extended her work to include the MCC Thrift Store. Once she moved to Lions Manor in Winkler, she fully enjoyed the many senior activities and social events and joyfully contributed to the Christmas Shoe Boxes where she could put her creativity to good use until this past year when she was no longer physically able. Mom instilled a strong sense of volunteerism in her children through her example and by supporting them through 4-H and boys clubs. Elma was a wonderful mother, with a wisdom to nurture each of her children according to their individual natures. Mom would say she had six different ways of parenting her six children. She deeply loved each grandchild and greatgrandchild, making this evident through the stories she proudly told and retold about them. She was entirely devoted to her family and friends.
Mom was profoundly committed to her faith which clearly guided her throughout her life journey and in the last months was impatient to go to her eternal home. In June of 1950 she was baptised and became a member of the Sommerfeld Church. The Nickel family attended the Plum Coulee Sommerfeld Church. After dad’s passing mom moved to Winkler and attended the Sommerfeld Church there while she was physically able. In the last years she very much enjoyed the church services at the Buhler Centre.
Elma will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by her children: Judy Nickel, Irene and Rob Patterson, Janet and Harold Pauls, Grace Nickel and Michael Zajac, Robert Nickel, Jim Nickel and Candice McDiarmid; her grandchildren: Angela and Nathan Gerbrandt, Julia and Brad Minnis, Richard and Mandi Pauls, John Patterson and Rachael Thorleifson, Jeffrey Pauls, Joseph Nickel; and greatgrandchildren: Taylor and Lauren Minnis, Zachary, James and Riley Gerbrandt, Jacob and Cooper Pauls.
Elma was predeceased by her husband, Henry Nickel, her parents, Reverend Jacob A. and Anna Unrau (Kehler), her stepmother, Katharina Unrau (Tina Penner), brother, Peter Unrau. Also, Elma leaves to mourn sisters- in-law, Helen Wiebe and Kathy Loewen, brother-in-law, John Wiebe and dear nieces and nephews.
Our mother will be a wonderful addition to heaven.
The family thanks Dr. Miller, Dr. Lane and the Boundary Trails Health Centre nursing team, the palliative care team both in hospital and at home, the first responders, Homecare. All have been splendid in supporting us through this difficult journey and we are truly grateful for such quality professionals in southern Manitoba.
Funeral service at the Winkler Sommerfeld Church at 11:00 a.m. on April 15, 2023 with a private interment at the Weidenfeld Cemetery. Donations in memory of Elma may be made to Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation designated to the Palliative Care Unit.