Donal Jack Nickalls

Donal Jack Nickalls

July 19, 1931 to December 25, 2020

Died peacefully on Christmas morning, at Fairvern Nursing Home, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.  Predeceased by wife Pat, and sons Gregg and Cam.  Deeply loved and will be forever missed by daughter Ann (John) Eastmure, sister CarolAnn Theilman of Saskatoon, SK, his cherished grandchildren, his Nickalls cousins, and many friends.

Don was born and raised in Huntsville, Ontario.  He attended Ryerson, majoring in Retail Management, and joined his family’s iconic Huntsville retail business Wardell & Company, which he and wife Pat operated for many years.  He later went on to work for several more happy years for his cousin Bill Nickalls, at The Huntsville Planing Mill.

Don was known by a great many people as a happy-go-lucky, kind and friendly person.  He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to share a joke or funny story (often about his grandkids’ shenanigans) and enjoy a good laugh  whenever possible.  He loved dogs and dogs loved him.

Once retired, Don enjoyed an active lifestyle which included many adventures travelling.  He made new friends wherever he went.  His favorite hobby was touring around, with co-pilot and companion Maureen, in his prized Miata, license plate number “FourFun.”  He lived his life to the fullest.

Our family extends the deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to all of Don’s wonderful, compassionate caregivers at Fairvern Nursing Home, as well as the entire staff, physicians, and Board who have all done a truly remarkable job, in such challenging times, to keep our loved ones safe at the most vulnerable stage of  their lives. Thanks also to our local paramedics and the nurses, physicians, and staff at Huntsville Hospital who cared for Don during his recent visits.  A special thankyou to his beloved friend Kate.

Donations to Fairvern Nursing Home, The Alzheimer’s Society, or the Huntsville Hospital Foundation in lieu of flowers would be greatly appreciated.  There will be no memorial service at this time.

In memory of Don, please enjoy a buttertart, his favorite treat, which he would fondly say “would put hair on your chest.”  Have a buttertart and think of Don – he would be “tickled pink!”