Nicholas Joseph Terlecki, also known as Smiggy, passed away peacefully on July 15, 2022 in his home in Florida at the age of 74. He was surrounded by his loving family, including his wife Michelle Terlecki and son Nicholas Terlecki.

Nick was born on Halloween in 1947 in Oakland Pennsylvania to Nicholas and Josephine(Natali)Terlecki where he spent the early years of his life.

But his travels would take him far outside his hometown, spending years in Miami beach, living it up, before settling down in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. He spent decades in Rolling Meadows where he married twice and had five children(that we know of).

It’s there he worked for the Village of Arlington Heights for more than 20 years. Even with minimal post-high school education, Nick worked hard to find success moving his way up the ladder to an engineer inspector.

He then moved out to Poplar Grove where he spent around 15 years before heading back down to Florida.

Nick truly lived life to the fullest, his strength and will to persevere through the toughest times is unmatched. Each ailment a challenge he worked to overcome through some tears, but mostly a lot of laughter. It was truly the laughter that propelled him through the 74 years of life.

His smile, contagious, and his ability to crack a joke during the darkest days, filled others with light. And boy did he like to speak his mind. Nick was the first to tell you like it is, no matter how harsh it was, and don’t piss him off, that man was fiercely loyal.

Nick could he talk to ANYONE about ANYTHING. There was never a stranger to Smig, even sitting on a mall bench.

His family will remember his deep love for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sundays filled with yelling at the TV, and the constant rewatching of the good, and the really, REALLY bad games. He pretty literally bled black and gold and is surely still cursing at the team.

And of course you couldn’t walk into the Terlecki household without hearing the pundits on Fox News. The chatter a constant background in the house, the familiar voices making most of us roll our eyes.

On any other day, you could find Nick scootering his way to Dollar General where he became a regular after his move back down to Florida. The small bit of independence liberating someone sometimes confined by a wheelchair

Before he lost his legs, you could find Nick at the golf course or driving range, hitting balls into the abyss with fellow coworkers. He also taught his children how to fish, spending time at Busse Woods with lines in the water, his girls squirming while baiting the live worms. The small catches moments of joy even if it just got thrown back in.

Nicks family was his world. He valued the time he spent with those he loved. And always made sure they were taken care of, notorious for weekend donuts and slipping his kids crisp $20 bills, even as adults.

Nick is survived by his wife Michelle; his five children Tim Terlecki, Jaclyn Barnes, Courtney Terlecki, Kaitlyn Konovalov(Kirill) and Nicholas Terlecki; his two sisters Anne(Bill) Hoole and Maryrose Malzacher; his brother Joseph(Danette) Terlecki; along with three grandchildren, Nicholas and Haley Terlecki and McKenna Barnes; his dog Capone; and many nieces and nephews.

Nick is preceded in death by his parents; his brothers John and Michael Terlecki and his sister Dolores Terlecki; along with his dogs Max, Maggie and Zoey, who loved their plates of spaghetti.

Nick’s life will be celebrated at a place he loved to play golf. Join us in remembering the wonderful life he lived on August 20 at Arlington Lakes Golf Club from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Food and beverage will be provided, no need to send flowers, instead, spread laughter, and be prepared to share your favorite memory as that’s what he wanted the most.