Richard "Rick" Kiszka

KISZKA – Richard “Rick”

Richard Lloyd Kiszka (known to all as Rick) of Parkside, SK passed away peacefully at Shellbrook Hospital on March 29, 2020, at the age of 63. He was born in Shellbrook on January 5, 1957, to Joseph & Mary Kiszka and grew up on the family farm east of Leask. He attended school in Leask, was a good student and excellent athlete, especially on the basketball court, winning many championship games. In school, as throughout his life, he was popular, well-liked, and had many friends.

After finishing school, he began work with a construction road crew which quickly led to his career with Sask Highways where he was employed for 40 years. He initially started on road construction, highways maintenance, and cleaning, then later in the Prince Albert office. For many years he spent much of his free time in winter clearing snow in Parkside and for friends and neighbors, having attached a blade to the front of his truck.

Rick met the love of his life, Debbie Elles, in 1974 and the teen sweetheart relationship soon blossomed and developed into a lifetime of love and marriage, sharing their lives side by side as a team. They resided temporarily in the Shellbrook / Marchant Grove district before permanently settling in Parkside. Over the years they were blessed with two children – their daughter Angie and son Dale. Rick’s family meant everything to him; they were the center of his whole life. He was always so proud of his wife, children, and grandsons and all their accomplishments. He spent countless hours watching his grandsons playing hockey and ball and his great-nephews playing football and cheering them on.

Rick’s friendly good nature and sense of humor made him someone everyone wanted to be around. He appreciated a good joke and came up with quite a few himself, followed by his trademark chuckle. After retirement, he was able to keep his coffee buddies well entertained.

A man with a big heart, he loved his family, friends, and the great outdoors. He was a true sportsman and outdoorsman who loved fishing, hunting, and camping. At a young age, he took a keen interest in hunting, walking through the fields with his dad’s rifle in hand, and thus began a lifelong love of hunting and guns. He was a marksman with a sharp eye, steady hand, and sure shot. His knowledge and skill were recognized and respected by fellow hunters, many of whom brought their trophy antlers to him for mounting. He was even featured in an article in Big Buck magazine.

He was a sports enthusiast – hockey, ball, golf, car racing, and had a passion for M & M Motorcycles and Mustangs!

At home, Rick took special pride in his yard and garden growing all kinds of flowers and vegetables and a meticulous lawn. He spent many hours building and caring for his backyard paradise which included a pond with carefully placed rocks, waterfall, and beach – a restful oasis that rivaled any park in the province.

An excellent cook, he could whip up a tasty loaf of bread and a perfect steak – a master of the barbeque all seasons including winter!

He enjoyed music and was a talented guitarist. Rick kept busy in his shop with meat-cutting and making bowls & plaques on his wood lathe.

He had a sensitive spiritual side which showed in his kindness, love for others, appreciation of nature, his lifestyle and character, and the way he handled challenges. With courage and determination, he battled illness time and time again with a spirit that would not give up – his doctor called him a walking miracle. Never one to complain only those closest to him knew how much he endured.

He enriched the lives of all who were fortunate to know him. Though we will miss him, we are so grateful to have shared his life.

At the end of the day – the sun has set, the hunt is over, and the hunter has gone Home.

Rick is survived by his wife Debbie (nee: Elles) of Parkside; his daughter Angie (Tim) Aug of Shellbrook and their sons Devin & Brendan; his son Dale Kiszka (Tina Shaw) of Shellbrook; his nephew Jason (Kim) Elles and their sons Brandon & Fenton of Prince Albert; his mother Mary Kiszka of Leask; his brother Joe Kiszka of Marcelin; his sister Lorraine Kiszka and niece Sheila Kiszka of Leask; his brothers-in-law Larry Elles of Shellbrook, and Dave Elles of Prince Albert; his sisters-in-law Betty Holmes of Prince Albert and Mary Ann Elles of Prince Albert, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Rick was predeceased by his father Joseph Kiszka; his brother John Kiszka; his father-in-law and mother-in-law Ernie & Molly Elles; and his brother-in-law Ken Holmes.

It was Rick’s wish to have a private family service. Special thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Shellbrook Hospital for their care and compassion. In lieu of tributes, memorial donations may be made in memory of Rick to the Shellbrook & Districts Health Services Foundation. Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home, Tammy Smart – Director, Shellbrook, SK 306-747-2828.