Second World War veteran turns 104 years old

Nick Kazuska danced into his birthday party Saturday and was even seen playing his bass.

What makes that impressive is that Kazuska — a Second World War veteran — turns 104 on Monday.

The Saskatoon resident said he grew up on tea and sugar and that’s what has kept him young at heart.

“When I was born, my mother said that she couldn’t nurse me — I was No. 4 in the family out of eight — so she put me on tea and sugar, and I still drink tea and sugar,” Kazuska said.

Kazuska actually provided music at his wife’s first wedding before going to war.

“I met my wife playing for her wedding before the war,” he said.

Kazuska has always had a passion for music and was even in a band back in the day.

“I was in a band in the ’50s with Smilin’ Johnnie,” said Kazuska. “I played with him from ’53 to ’57.”

Kazuska added that some people still come up to him and tell him they used to dance to his music.

Kazuska’s son Patrick said it’s hard to pinpoint one specific memory he has with father.

“I have two other siblings … and Dad would be around his vehicle,” said Patrick. “(We were impressed with) the amount of patience he had, because we would be little and losing tools and he was just calm and collected as everything. I think it’s pretty cool.”

Patrick added that playing the bass is probably a great spark in his father’s life.

“(When) the recreation director says they’ve got a 104-year-old that plays the bass, people are probably thinking, ‘Well yeah, the person’s probably brutal and can’t see and hear,’ ” said Patrick. “But he’s pretty musically talented.

“I always say I feel like such a schmuck because I can’t play anything, but I’m very proud to have a dad like that.”

Nick’s party included a band that lets him join in whenever they come to Preston Park, where he’s staying.

Walter Kyliuk is a part of the band and helped organize the surprise party for Kazuska. Kyliuk said he wanted to help because he and Nick go back a long way.

“We’ve attended his birthdays throughout the years and we would make a point of bringing our instruments out,” said Kyliuk. “It was important to Nick to pull his standup bass and join us, so that was his birthday celebration every year.”

Kyliuk and Kazuska also played with each other at various different events.

“Musicians tend to run into each other and meet at various events,” said Kyliuk. “We learned we both played with Smilin’ Johnnie way back in the late ’50s (and) early ’60s — not together but at different times.”

Kyliuk added that Kazuska is even-tempered and just enjoys life to the fullest.