Obituary of WALTER NIEROBISZ

Born in Warsaw, Poland to Weronika and Eugene Nierobisz on January 26th, 1936. Died suddenly on October 23, 2024 at 88 years of age, with his beloved wife and son by his side. He was predeceased by his father, mother, and step-father (Steve Kortus).

Waldemar is survived by his wife of 63 years, Irena Nierobisz, son Jeffrey Nierobisz (Tammy Furkalo), East St. Paul, Manitoba; daughter Annette Nierobisz (Robert Morrow), Northfield, Minnesota; and brother-in-law Eugene Martynec (Vida Juozaitis), Toronto, Ontario.

In 1951, Waldemar arrived in Canada as a 15-year-old refugee from a displaced persons camp in post-World War II Germany, where he and his war-widowed mother were deported following the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. With just $5 to his name and his traumatized mother now disabled, young Waldemar became the primary breadwinner. Determined to succeed, he spent his first summer working at a farm, from sunup to sundown, in Sanford, Manitoba. From there he made his way to Sioux Lookout, Ontario, where he cut pulpwood. Later, he went to Rankin Inlet, working for a copper-nickel mine as a lab assistant. In the 1960s, he proudly began working for the City of Winnipeg, where he made many good friends including his bestie, Len Rocke. Waldemar retired from the City in 1997 as a Project Officer in the Civic Buildings Department.

After a challenging war-torn childhood, Waldemar found in Winnipeg a community of Polish refugees with whom he and Irena celebrated life to the fullest. They attended dances, dinners, and other social events at The Polish Combatants Association Branch #13 (also known as “SPK”). Waldemar volunteered faithfully for several decades at SPK and also at the Canadian Polish Manor and Folklorama’s Warsaw Pavilion. This past summer, Waldemar was deeply honored to receive formal recognition for his many contributions.

In his retirement years, Waldemar enjoyed spending time with his wife at their Lake Manitoba Narrows cottage. He took joy in the simple tasks that made for a beautiful and welcoming environment for family and friends. And, he could fix and build just about anything!

Waldemar will be remembered for his strong work ethic, abundant generosity, sincere kindness, and delightful sense of humor. He loved his family immensely, was a caring husband and father, and his children never wanted for anything.

Per his wishes, cremation by Cropo Funeral Chapel with a private service for his family only. We invite you to please celebrate Waldemar’s memory in your own way.

Our family would like to thank Dad’s first responders, the East St. Paul Fire Department and Winnipeg Ambulance Services, who skillfully assisted with transporting him to the hospital. We are also grateful to the medical staff at Selkirk General Hospital and to Father Gerald Langevin, Notre Dame Catholic Church in Selkirk, Manitoba.