Tina Erna Nickel

Tina is lovingly remembered by her four children: daughters, Ingrid Nickel and husband, Don Anderson, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Krista Nickel and husband, Kent Scarborough and their children, Maeve and Hugh Scarborough, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Maria “Mia” Nickel and husband, Kerry Swinney, of Vancouver, British Columbia, son, Erik Nickel and wife, Carrie Nickel and their son Jacob of White City, Saskatchewan.

She also leaves many relatives and friends, too numerous to mention; all of whom are sad at her passing.

She was predeceased by her husband, Henry Benjamin “Hank” Nickel, parents, Jacob and Katherina Unrau and her brothers, Hans Unrau, Walter Unrau and Harry Unrau.

Tina was born at home on the family farm at Hanley, Saskatchewan on January 31, 1932.

She attended primary school at Sheldon School, a one-room schoolhouse in the Hanley, area and was inseparable from her childhood playmate, cousin Ella Peters (Ella Dueck, after marriage). Tina and Ella were the youngest in their respective families and were affectionately nicknamed “the babies”.

Tina attended Rosthern Junior College for Grade 11 and then relocated with her parents and brother Harry to Winnipeg, where she pursued employment, eventually acquiring a job with the Toronto Dominion Bank as a teller. Tina would subsequently go on to customer service positions with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) in Biggar, Saskatchewan and North Battleford, Saskatchewan-wan after stepping away from employment for several years, to become a stay-at-home parent to her children and to support Hank in his career with the Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture.

Tina met Hank in Winnipeg, Manitoba through friends. According to Tina, Hank asked her out for coffee; Tina paid the tab when the server could not give Hank change from a large bill. Hank insisted they meet again so he could repay her. Further dates followed.

Tina and Hank were engaged in 1957, married in Winnipeg on September 27, 1958 and settled briefly in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, where Tina also worked in the banking industry.

Throughout their marriage, they would reside first in North Battleford and Biggar, Saskatchewan and again in North Battleford. In these communities, they raised their four children.

Tina gave back to the communities in which she lived and was an active member and volunteer in the United Church where she served as Treasurer and in the Battlefords Bonaventure Lions Club where she served as Treasurer and President.

Tina received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award from Lions Clubs International for exemplary service.

Tina was dedicated to her home and family. She took pride in her vegetable garden, shrubs and flowers. She enjoyed canning and preserving fruit and vegetables, cooking and baking. She and Hank hosted many Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.

Tina learned to ski in her early 40’s and the family has fond memories of ski trips taken with Hank’s brother Arnold Nickel, his wife, Lorene Nickel and their five children.

In retirement, Tina and Hank travelled extensively. They made memorable journeys to many countries in Europe, to Hawaii, California, Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia and cruises through the Panama Canal and in Alaska.

After Hank’s passing, in 2017, Tina took her children and grandchildren on an Alaskan cruise. In 2018, Tina went on a Danube River cruise with family members and realized her ambition to visit the city of Prague in the Czech Republic.

After Hank’s death in 2015, Tina moved from their home in North Battleford to an assisted living facility in Saskatoon, The Bentley, where she made new friends and worshipped at McClure United Church.

In 2022, Tina moved to the Sunrise personal care home in Rosthern, Saskatchewan. Failing health resulted in a further move to Rosthern Hospital for six months and, in 2023, a personal care home in Cudworth, Saskatchewan.

A Celebration of Tina’s Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at Windsor Chapel (704 Windsor Street, Saskatoon).

Flowers are gratefully declined. If you wish, please make a donation in Tina’s memory, to the United Church of Canada (North Battleford/Third Avenue United and Saskatoon/McClure United congregations) and the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), causes dear to Tina’s heart.

Mom, we love you and will miss you forever.

Arrangements entrusted to Ryan Lensen.