Germaine Dolores Mikolas

Germaine was born June 21, 1942 to Steve and Anne Kurucz at the Esterhazy Hospital. She was the third of three daughters and grew up north of Yarbo, SK at the top of the Cutarm Valley. She had many fond memories of her childhood, from her dog Shep bringing the cattle home for her while she sat on the hill, to her sister Joanne bribing her to play baseball with her, telling her she would let her win, and getting accidentally drunk at the age of 3 when her uncle made it home from the war. A picture of her family home still hangs in the Esterhazy Museum.

Gemaine took her schooling first at Dovedale, then Reeves school and Gerald where she stayed with her Uncle Frank and Aunt Mary Helmle and cousin Diane Lamontagne. This is where Germaine met her soulmate Bernard (Bernie) Mikolas. It was love at first sight. At the tender age of 17, Germaine moved to Regina to work as an elevator operator at Simpson Sears. But, love was calling, and soon after, marriage was proposed. At the age of 19, Germaine married her life-long partner, the love of her life, Bernie, on June 24, 1961. Bernie said he always told people it was such a dry year that year, there was nothing else to do so they got married. They built a house on the Mikolas farm and 3 years after marriage, welcomed home their first child, Gregory Kevin, born May 20, 1964. They spent 15 years as a family of 3 before being surprised by the upcoming arrival of their daughter, Kelli Ann, born May 31, 1979.

Germaine was an amazing cook and baker, who was always trying new recipes. She could often be found sitting at the kitchen table reading a cookbook while something else was cooking on the stove. Her grandchildren would always ask “Grandma how come your food is always so good?” Germaine loved flowers and always had a vegetable garden so her family had fresh food. Even in her later years, she would be found in the garden in the summer, coaxing little slips to grow in her living room in the winter.

Germaine was a strong community supporter, being a member of the CWL, volunteering in the kitchen at the rink, hall, and Gerald sports days, attending dances and supporting church events. She was never a person to step back and let others do all the work. Germaine was a kind and gentle woman but she had an edge to her. She was firm in her parenting, stubborn as a spouse, and stood her ground with anyone else when necessary. If she was angry enough, she would say what she was thinking and didn’t care what people thought. As Bernie put it one day while she was in the hospital, “Mom didn’t take “poop” from no one.”

Germaine is predeceased by her father Stephan, mother Anne, first born infant sister Rosella, and older sister Joan. Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 61 years, Bernie, Greg of Regina, and Kelli (Kirk) of Neepawa, MB, grandchildren Cynthia, Tiernan, Kayleigh, Steven, and Joshua Mikolas, Dawson, Maverick, and Gavin Jakubowski, great granddaughter Willow Mikolas, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, an aunt, and many close friends.

Germaine began her difficult days in the hospital on June 2, 2022. She struggled with pain in her feet for so long prior, and her journey became a rocky path with ups and downs, but ultimately the Lord had other plans. After a short struggle on life support, the decision was made to let the Lord decide. She passed away on July 15, 2022 at 2:17 PM with her husband and children by her side as she entered the gates of Heaven. Our world will never be the same without her but the world is a better place because of her.