Brian Lise

Brian Lise peacefully went to be with Jesus the morning of July 17th, 2025 in Rosthern, SK.

Brian was born on January 5, 1946 in Drente, Holland and at the age of 9 Brian immigrated to Canada with his parents, Tom and Jane Lise, and six siblings. They moved to Ontario where they lived in various places. Even in his youth, Brian was the most outgoing and friendly person to all he met, his enthusiasm for life was contagious. Brian lived life with a deep faith in Jesus and wanted to share the hope he had with everyone he met. He was a man with vision and purpose who had a passion for service and mentorship.

In his early years he was very involved in his school community and with sports. He attended Mohawk College for Electrical Engineering, where he was captain of the football team, editor of the yearbook, and volunteered as the local president of the Young People’s Association. After College he worked in his electrica=l field and spent time off on adventures traveling with his best friend Alf through parts of Europe, Mexico and all over Canada and the US. During this time he met a darling young Dutch woman who also immigrated to Canada as a child, Rita Buninga, and they were married on December 3, 1971. Soon after he took a job in Nova Scotia with a Cable TV company, and the family started to grow.

In Nova Scotia, the first daughter Joy was born and then followed shortly after by Janet when they moved to New Brunswick to continue the cable TV work. In 1977, Brian felt the call to leave the booming industry of engineering and he entered into ministry. The family moved to Sarnia, ON and Brian began work as a Christian camp director. The family trailer home, soon became too small as the third daughter Julie was born. The family moved to the Holland Marsh, ON where Brian built a new family home and began working for The World Home Bible league raising funds for Bibles. It was here that the 5 J’s were completed with two more baby girls born, Juanita and Justina. The family moved to Abbotsford, BC in 1992, while Brian worked with Pacific Island Ministries, and then they moved back to Ontario in 1996, to Alton, ON where Brian started at Partners International and later became the director at Eurovangelism. Through these working years he travelled visiting missionaries and the various works he raised funds for. He often led Vision trips so others could see where their money was going and Brian never faltered to encourage people to join the fight for Christ in prayer, actions, and finances. His most treasured trip was in 1994 when he met Mother Theresa in Kolkata, India. Throughout the years he travelled to more than 60 different countries, transformed countless lives for Christ, and God used him to raise more than 10 million dollars for the work of the Gospel!

Brian and Rita were always very involved in their local church volunteering as much as they could. Brian travelled for itinerant preaching, inspiring others with the call of missions and providing people with the opportunity and the privilege to give. They supported their daughters as they went to Bible College and travelled the world. In 2011 Brian and Rita decided to move to their fifth province and retired in Warman, SK. There they quickly got involved in their local church, with the local seniors group, Global Christian Centre Ministries and on the board of the Canadian Bible Society. Brian and Rita loved living in SK nearer to their grandchildren, and spent many hours with them attending soccer games and enjoying the gardens and summer sun or winter snow. They continued to love biking, gardening, evening walks and travelling to visit family and friends all over Canada and the world.

In 2011 Brian was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, and for the next 12 years treated it naturally until it became a greater issue in the fall of 2023. In 2020 Rita was diagnosed with dementia and she quickly declined in the coming years. Brian cared for her through the difficult times as an ever-loving life partner, together for almost 54 years. In the fall of 2024 Brian took his five daughters on a cruise to celebrate life and family. Soon after the trip Brian’s health began to decline. After visits and encouragement from many friends and family Brian finally succumbed to the disease this July. In his final days we would see him call out to Jesus to give him strength within the pain and to welcome him home.

Brian is survived by his wife, Rita and their five daughters, Joy (Jesse) Nokinsky, Janet (Mario) Martin, Julie (Joel) MacKinnon, Juanita (Aaron) Tuntland and Justina (Gonzalo) Lise, as well as nine grandchildren; Liam, Linden, Leia, Lise, Lloyd, Joshua, August, Stella and Leon. Brian is also survived by siblings, Jessie (Ralph) Koolma, Shirley (Fred) Faber (both deceased), John (deceased) Lise, Bill (Jill) Lise, Luke (Shirley) Lise, Linda (deceased) (Frank) VanderPol, Ralph (Emmy) Lise, Otto (AnnaMarie) Lise, and Wayne (June) Lise.

The family would like to give a special thank you to the wonderful residents and staff at Rosthern Mennonite Care Home for their love and care for our Dad in his final year of life.

There will be a Viewing on Thursday July 31st, 2025 at 7-9 at Martensville Baptist Church. Stories and sharing about Brian will begin at 7:30

The Celebration of Life will be held Friday August 1st, 2025 at 1:30 Martensville Baptist Church.

The Celebration of Life will be live streamed on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=ryDd_64iU84&ab_channel=MBCOffice

In Lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted for the following ministries that are close to Brian’s heart: Open Doors Foundation - Hardi & Beti Kubassak- Romania https://gccm.squarespace.com/#where-we-work

Thank you sincerely for choosing to remember the outstanding life and ministry of Brian by donating to our ministry.

As Brian would say, "we have so much to be thankful for."

"Blessings"
Sincerely, E. Hardi & Beti Kubassek
Medgidia, Romania

Warman Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with Mr. Brian Lise's care and arrangements.