Ronald William Niznik of Brooks, loving husband of Glenda Niznik, passed away on Saturday September 26, 2026, at Sunrise Gardens in Brooks, Alberta, after struggling with dementia. He was born in Brooks, on March 10th, 1947, to John and Genovia Niznik, the 4th of 5 children and was 79 years of age at his passing.

Ron’s early life was spent on the farm in Antelope Creek, and this is where his inventive, creative and mischievous nature blossomed. Some of the relics of his various creations can still be stumbled upon at the farm to this day, including go-carts and a lawn mower built from scratch. Notable memories also include many trips to the Bow River in this home-built go-cart with siblings and neighboring friends. The farm continued to operate as home base as Ron got a taste of the oil patch after high school, going to work on a pipeline in the Pincher Creek area, briefly employed as a brick layer on the Foothills Hospital and working on the rigs shortly after that. His brothers marveled at the list of cars that the rigging life allowed him to purchase in the late sixties, which included an Oldsmobile “rig car”, Mercury Montego, Camaro and a convertible Firebird. It was with one of these last 2 cars that a tale emerged of meeting the police on highway 36 going way too fast, so the solution was to go faster, because he knew they had no chance of catching him.

In 1972, Ron was caught when he met Glenda Sealock and this was followed by marriage on October 5th, 1974, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooks. With marriage, Ron also became a father to Wanita and Lori. Ron worked for several drilling companies throughout the 1970’s including Comanche and Shelby Drilling, where he was promoted to tool push around 1974. This had the young family follow the work and briefly make the move down to Casper, Wyoming and shortly after their return to Brooks, Dustin was born in 1975, followed by Aaron in 1983. One of the highlights of his 20+ years in the oil industry, was his involvement with designing and building rigs 1 & 2 with Drimmatic Drilling.

The latter half of the 80’s saw Ron pivot in his career path and begin developing an aquatic weed harvester, with work starting in his garage in Ingram Park, progressing to his full-time endeavor and eventually the move to Jupiter, Florida in February of 1992 to continue with this passion. Although recognized with a first-place award from the Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society in 1994, this project experienced difficulties with commercialization and eventually was abandoned, with Ron changing career paths once more.

It was the mid 90’s and he purchased a Kubota backhoe and thus began his next undertaking with a landscaping business, which was operated until the eventual return to Brooks on Thanksgiving of 2022. With grandchildren added through the years, Ron and Glenda were drawn back to home and family.

Ron’s enthusiasm of hydraulics, quirky sense of humor and meticulous nature can be appreciated by those who knew him well.

Ron was predeceased by parents, John (1985) and Genovia (2023); brother Patrick (1976); sister Fiona Forner (2025); grandson Dawson Petersen (2000); father and mother in-laws Glenn (1996) and Birdella (2009) Sealock; brother-in-law Ken Sealock (2023). Survived by, brothers, John Jr. (Jack) Niznik, George (& Joan) Niznik; brothers and sisters-in-law Donna Niznik, Ed Forner, Don (& Del) Sealock, Bill (& Maxine) Sealock and Marie Sealock; children, Wanita Petersen, Lori Smids (& Matt), Dustin (& Cathy) and Aaron; grandchildren, Tianna Capplette (& Daryien), Logan Petersen, Christina Lake, Damon (& Taryn) Smids and Jolene Niznik; great granddaughter, Dallas Smids as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 8th at 2:00 PM from Trinity Lutheran Church, Brooks. Rev. John Theiss officiating. Interment at Brooks Cemetery.

If friends desire memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society, 10430 61 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 2J3.