Remembering Mr. John Robert Liss

(Cnd. Forces Retired Major)

Passed away at the Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital on Thursday September 5, 2013, at the age of 78. John Liss of Coldwater, beloved husband of the late Marianne Liss. Loving father of Gregory Liss of Edmonton, Claire (Mark) Milinkovich of California, Stephen Liss of Seattle, Washington and Andrea Liss (Mark Korczynski) of Hamilton. Loved grandfather of Alex and Mark Jr. Dear brother of Helen (Hugh) Smart, Val Ferguson, Ed Liss (Helen), Ted Liss (Margaret) and predeceased by his brothers Ken, Stan & Vlad. Dear companion of Phyllis Fitzsimmons. John will be sadly missed by his faithful dog “Pies”.

John was the youngest of eight unique children.  His parents were industrious Polish homesteaders who settled in Sangudo, Alberta.  John graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture on May 16, 1958 and was commissioned as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces the next day.   He proudly served Canada for 36 years.  John’s career as a soldier had many highlights.   He graduated from the Canadian Forces Staff College in 1968 and served as a United Nations Military Observer in India and Pakistan for one year in 1970.  John, Marianne and the four Liss children lived in Edmonton, Soest Germany, Oromocto New Brunswick, Trenton, Ottawa, and Orillia. 

John had many talents and valued hard work as well as community service.  He hand made his own fiberglass canoe, learned to cane chairs, was an avid vegetable gardener and travelled extensively.  He enjoyed photography, making and eating pies, and writing letters to the editor!  He was once recognized for having made 100 blood donations to the Canadian Red Cross.  He was a proud member of the Royal Canadian Legion.  John was well respected for his commitment to volunteerism at the Orillia Public Library and especially at the Saint Vincent de Paul food bank.  His steadfast reliability and drive will be sadly missed by his friends at Sacred Heart Church, Warminster. 

The family would like to thank Dr. Tazzeo and all the wonderful staff on Soldiers I and 4^th Floor Palliative Care at Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital. Special thanks to his friends at St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank and Sacred Heart Church for all of their support. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Warminster on Monday morning, September 9, 2013 at 10 o’clock. A reception will follow at the church. If desired, memorial donations to St. Vincent de Paul or Sacred Heart Church would be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to the Doolittle Chapel of Carson Funeral Homes, 54 Coldwater St. E. Orillia, (705) 326-3595.