Canada’s oldest Second World War veteran dies at 110

Canada’s oldest living person, Fort Erie’s Burdett Sisler, has died at the age of 110.

His son Norm Sisler tells CHCH News Burdett passed from natural causes April 2 — just two weeks shy of his 111th birthday.

“He had a really good life. We really can’t complain. We were blessed to have him so long,” said Norm.

Norm proudly added that his father saw two world wars, two global pandemics and two solar eclipses — the first in 1925 and the second in 2023.

He was born in Akron, Ohio in 1915 but moved to Canada in 1918 when he was three years old. Norm tells CHCH that Burdett’s dad was sent to Toronto in 1918 to set up a Goodyear plant to make tires.

Burdett joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1943. But as an American citizen, he could not join the war effort right away. Instead he helped by volunteering to take part in chemical warfare trials.

He later worked as a customs officer for 30 years.

Burdett is survived by 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren.

His family believes he was the oldest living Second World War veteran in North America.

The family tells CHCH News that all are welcome at Burdett’s funeral, which is set for next Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Benner Funeral Home in Fort Erie. Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Burdett’s family is also welcoming donations in his memory to Fort Erie’s Legion Branch 71 or to any charity.

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