Neal Mihalicz

Neal Mihalicz

December 14, 1956 – October 31, 2024

Neal Mihalicz passed into eternity peacefully at the age of 67 on October 31, 2024 surrounded by his family. 

Dad’s story really started on the night of his 20^th birthday. 

You see, he had very recently moved to Saskatoon to start his career with the Bank of Nova Scotia, and being new to the city he didn’t yet know many people.  It was a dark and cold Tuesday night as mid-December tends to be.  Not wanting to spend his birthday evening alone he picked up his roommates black book and opened it to a random page and picked a random name.  Spoiler alert, but that name happened to be Glenda Willems.  He proceeded to picked up the phone, dialed the number and explained to the young lady that answered (Glenda) that there was a huge party and she should come.

I believe her first words were, “What!, Are you crazy!” given the cold weather.  He must have assured her that he indeed was not crazy because that young lady hung up the phone, hopped into her 1964 Ford Fairlaneand drove to the ‘party’ (keep in mind it was 1976, things were different back then!).

As she walked in, it didn’t take too long to realize there was actually no huge party. In fact no one else was even there!  Did she walk out and leave?  No, she stayed.  In fact, 11 days later Dad broke up with his girlfriend (let’s just say she wasn’t expecting this, but we won’t get into that here) and Mom moved in right after New Years.  On a beautiful fall day in October 1977 he married the love of his life, Glenda Willems. 

Backing up to the beginning, Neal was born December 1956 to Frank and Sylvia Mihalicz.  He spent his formative years growing up in Raymore (home of the Rockets, IYKYK).  His unbreakable work ethic presented early and by the age of 15 Dad was working a 60-hour work week.  Given his extreme academic success he was recruited into Royal Roads Military Academy after graduating high school.  He received an honorable medical discharge in 1976 and began his career with the Bank of Nova Scotia which is what had brought him to Saskatoon when he met Glenda.

Life changed in May 1978 with the arrival of his daughter, Krista.  This was a moment that changed him, where he ‘grew-up’ and embraced fatherhood and family.  We became a family of 4 in June 1980 with the birth of his son Terry.

Dad’s career with Scotiabank moved our family many times covering Tisdale, Prince Albert, Regina, and Saskatoon.  He enjoyed a successful career with the bank spanning 38 years where he developed many deep connections with his colleagues and customers.

He always had a passion to give back to his community.  He proudly served as Chairman of the Board on the Saskatoon Foodbank and Learning Center for 14 years as well as many other roles on his Church’s Board.

He retired in 2014 and became full-time Grandpa to Lauren, Katie, Lucas, Henry and George.  He and Glenda spent a lot of time at their cabin at Brightsand Lake with their grandchildren truly living their best lives and creating permanent memories.

In 2019 Neal returned to his small town roots as he and Glenda moved from Saskatoon to Hepburn, Glenda’s home town.  He loved and embraced the community and after being here only a year joined the town Council to be able to make a difference. In just the 5 years he lived here he connected with so many members of the community and truly did make a difference!  In October 2024 he was truly honored to become the Mayor Elect of Hepburn.

His main priority was always on taking care of his family. Whether that meant doing someone’s taxes, providing advice on just about anything, or driving kids to school when it was cold outside, it didn’t matter.

For reasons that we don’t yet understand, after a brief illness Neal was called by his Heavenly Father on October 31, 2024.  He passed peacefully holding Glenda and Lauren’s hands while surrounded by the people whose lives he’d had the greatest impact on.

He is survived by Glenda, his beloved wife of 47 years and 2 days; his children Krista (Jason) and Terry (Shela); grandchildren Lauren (Kyle), Katie, Lucas, Henry, and George.  His mother Sylvia; brother Glen (Crystal) and nephews Mathieu (Kelsey) and Zach (Delsea).  He was predeceased by his father Frank; father-in-law and mother-in-law Lawrence and Helen Willems; and sister-in-law Delores.

Dad had so many unfulfilled goals that we will take on in his honor.  To start, in lieu of flowers we ask donations to be made to the Hepburn School Breakfast Program, something that Neal cared deeply about (cheques to be made payable to Hepburn School with a note of Breakfast Program at Box 219 Hepburn SK S0K 1Z0).

A Celebration of Neal’s Life will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at Hepburn MB Church (221 2^nd Avenue South, Hepburn, SK).  The viewing will be at 1:00 pm and the Celebration of Life at 2:00 pm.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STREAM LINK OF FUNERAL SERVICE FOR THE LATE NEAL MIHALICZ
(A copy of the live stream will also be available to view after the service at the link above. The copy will be available for approximately 6 months.)

To honor Neal’s love of the Saskatchewan Roughriders his family will dress in Rider green, and we invite you to do the same as we laugh, cry, and love together remembering a man who made such an incredible difference not only to me (his daughter) but to everyone who had the privilege to know him.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Dalmeny Funeral Home 306-254-2022