Funeral For: Leona Nickel nee Hildebrand
Funeral Date: Private
Leona Nickel nee Hildebrand, 80, of Altona formerly of Rosenfeld, passed away Friday, June 20th at her residence. She is survived by 2 sons, 1 brother, and their families. She was predeceased by her husband Grant.
A private funeral service for Leona Nickel nee Hildebrand will be held with burial at Weidenfeld Cemetery.
Arrangements by Wiebe Funeral Home, Altona.
Leona Nickel (nee Hildebrand), age 80 years, of Altona formerly of Rosenfeld, MB passed away peacefully at her residence on Friday, June 20, 2025. Leona was born at the Altona Hospital on December 30th, 1944 and she grew up on a farm 2 2/3 miles south of town, in the district of Gnadenfeld. Her parents were Jac (Jake) and Anne Hildebrand and she had 2 older brothers, Edwin and Elmer.
The early years were somewhat lonely for Leona – her brothers were much older, the neighbors across the road had no children and although her parents had a busy social life, many of those couples had older children. So, Leona spent endless hours playing with kittens, dressing them in doll clothes and driving them around the yard in a doll carriage. Another favorite place was the hayloft, playing among piles of hay baled pretending to be Heidi, navigating The Alps in Switzerland.
Leona attended school in Gnadenfeld from gr. 1 – gr. 7 and due to declining enrolment in the country school, her parents decided Altona would be a good choice for grade 8 – and since Elmer had a job at the radio station, he would provide transportation – as there were yet no school buses. School in Altona went well. Leona joined many things – the choir, the student council, the cheerleading squad. She did not graduate – too much fun and not enough studying. Don Braun offered her a job at The Rexall Drug store and Leona enjoyed working there.
Grant Nickel and Leona got married at the Altona United Church in 1964 and settled on a farmyard west of Rosenfeld. Leona enjoyed her role as homemaker and Kevin and Kurt rounded out this family circle. Life was good. The boys were in school and Leona volunteered there, as well. When her mom was stricken with dementia, Leona became very involved with the Alzheimer Society. When her mom moved into the Personal Care Home, Leona chose to become involved there, as well, and spent many years baking buns and making music with the residents.
A great delight in her life were four very special grandchildren. Raven, Tori, Mattea and Cole were very close in age and they spent a lot of time at grandma’s house. Baking cookies, going on picnics, meals to the field for the combiners – to name just a few activities - was great fun. Then along came great grandchildren – Hailey, Austin, Asha and Solace – a wonderful addition to the family.
Leona was experiencing strange symptoms happening to her body in January, 2020. Many doctor’s appointments, many tests, no results. A trip to Mayo Clinic determined that she had a motor neuron disease related to A.L.S. No meds. No cure. So be it. She determined that she would go on living as best she was able, with grace and gratitude.
Then Grant was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, with a 4 – 6 month life expectancy. This was hard, but with great family support as well as palliative care, we were able to fulfil Grant’s wish to die at home.
Leona loved her life. She felt privileged in having many opportunities to work with others for worthwhile causes. She loved her church – the choir, the study groups, TAB, the Soup & Pie fundraising. She felt called “to be the hands and feet of Christ” and this was recognized through various volunteer awards but mostly in the way she conducted herself in life. Anyone who knew her knew that she was a joyful woman of integrity and wisdom.