Burdett Sisler, one of the world’s oldest World War II veterans, has died, just days shy of his 111th birthday.
Sisler, who died last week at 110, was believed to be Canada’s oldest living man. His son, Norman, reported his father’s death, saying he was surrounded by family when he died. The WWII veteran’s health had declined during his final weeks.
Norman Sisler told the Canadian Press that losing his father is “bittersweet.”
“You don’t want to see him go, of course. But he had a long life,” Norman said. “It was a great life.”
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon (Canada’s commander in chief) released a statement recognizing Sisler’s achievements and expressing condolences to his friends and family.
“He was a member of the generation that shaped modern Canada,” Simon said. “He witnessed profound moments in history while embodying the values of service and perseverance that continue to inspire us all.”
More Than a Century of Memories
Sisler was born in the U.S. on April 14, 1915, in Akron, Ohio. When he was three years old, his family moved to Toronto, planting roots in Ontario, Canada. Sisler’s father had accepted a job transfer to the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, a new corporation in the 1910s.
“Cars were starting to become popular and that’s why they came to Canada,” Norman said.
After he joined the war effort, Sisler served as a radio technician for the Canadian military. Following the war, Sisler moved to Fort Erie, Ontario, landing a job with the Canada Border Services Agency.
In an interview last year with The Canadian Press, Sisler flashed his sense of humor saying that making it to 110 wasn’t daunting because “all you have to do is stay alive.”
Sisler has been a widower for over 40 years – losing his wife, Mae, in 1985. Together, the couple raised a large family with five children, then along came 12 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and currently 14 great great grandchildren.
Sisler’s son noted that many aspects of life changed during his father’s 110 years.
“He has seen two pandemics and two world wars and two solar eclipses,” Norman said.
In a statement, Canadian Veterans Affairs Minister Jill McKnight said Sisler served Canada’s people for decades.
“Mr. Sisler was among the veterans whose sacrifice and resilience helped shape our country,” she said. “He leaves behind a legacy that continues to inspire future generations.”
War Time Service
Sisler joined the Royal Canadian Army in 1943, but that wasn’t his first choice.
He dreamed of joining the Royal Canadian Air Force, and despite earning high praise from superiors, was denied due to a poor eye.
After competing military gunner school in Nova Scotia, Sisler finished radar training in Barriefield, Ontario, and started working as a telecommunications mechanic.
Sisler joined the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical Mechanical Engineers in 1945 and was promoted to sergeant.
Sisler never had the opportunity to deploy overseas. Soon after his promotion, the war ended.
“I have to think back to those who had a rougher time than I had. I never got the chance to go overseas,” Sisler said in 2025. “A lot of soldiers didn’t come back.”
A Man of Many Interests
Following the war, Sisler made a home in Fort Erie with his family and worked for the Department of National Revenue as a customs agent at the Canadian-U.S. border.
In the summer, Sisler and his wife often took the kids to Ontario’s provincial parks for extended camping trips. In the 1960s, Sisler performed in a barber shop quartet, while also managing a side gig repairing TVs and radios with a buddy.
“He had an ad which stated, ‘If you have a whistler, call Hanes and Sisler,’” Norman said. “That’s just a small example of his humor.”
Sisler witnessed plenty of changes in technology in his 110 years, but the advancement in TV sets threw him for a loop. He was accustomed to fixing the traditional big box sets powered by cathode ray tubes.
“It took him a while to digest these flat screen TVs,” Norman said. “He was really amazed at how you could get a picture on such a flat screen.”
In his Canadian Press interview from last year, Sisler said he didn’t have any sage wisdom for maintaining a long life, only that he never smoked and enjoyed life’s simple pleasures – like a cold beer after mowing his yard when on hot days.
But perhaps Sisler’s secret to longevity was not taking life too seriously and finding humor in everyday situations, traits his son will miss.
Since his father’s death, Sisler’s family has seen support from across Canada and the world.
“It’s just amazing,” Norman said. “He would be pleased; he would be very pleased.”
