NICOLAY, Marcus Grenville. 1923-2011
Marcus passed away peacefully at home at the age of 88 on October 16, 2011. Predeceased by his first wife in 1971. Survived by his wife of 38 years, Maud Wieland. Born on May 4, 1923 in Western Australia, to Arthur and Violet Nicolay, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942, at age 19. Marcus was commissioned to Pilot Officer in 1944; posted to England and attached to RAF where he served with Bomber Command 149 Squadron - Fortis nocte - flying 29 Sorties during WW11 in the Avro Lancaster and, on May 3, 1945, his final Lancaster flight, supply drops over The Hague, The Netherlands. After termination of service on the active list of the RAAF, in January 1946, he returned to Australia. In late 1946, Marcus accepted a position as a pilot with KNILM - Royal Netherlands Indies Airways - Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia. After the takeover of KNILM by KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines), Marcus moved to the Netherlands in 1948 and began a career that spanned 33 years of service with KLM, retiring in 1979. Captain Nicolay flew world-wide and became engineering pilot on the DC8, and later DC10, aircraft. We are grateful for his long and happy life. He was a true gentleman, who lovingly took care of "his Maud", for many years until he became unable to do so in his final years. Cremation has taken place and his wish to have his ashes taken back to Perth (Karrakatta Cemetery) will be fulfilled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer Society of BC would be appreciated. Victory Memorial Park Funeral Centre 604-536-6522