Fort Erie lowers flags to honour death of Canada’s oldest war veteran

Flags at Fort Erie Town hall have been lowered Monday morning after the death of a man known across town and across the country.

Burdett Sisler died last week at the age of 110, just two weeks shy of his 111th birthday.

He was a war veteran and the oldest known living Canadian.

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.

READ MORE: Canada’s oldest Second World War veteran dies at 110

He later settled in Fort Erie and worked 45 years for the Canada Border Services Agency.

Burd is survived by five children, 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren.

The family tells CHCH News that all are welcome at Burdett’s funeral, which is set for 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.

In a post on facebook, Fort Erie’s Mayor thanked Burd, “for being an inspiration to us all”.

Flags will remain lowered until his funeral.

WATCH MORE: Fort Erie man celebrated as Canada’s oldest veteran at 110-years-old