Brian Crisall
Sept 8, 1954 to Jul 8, 2026, age 71, Silent Key
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Brian Crisall. Brian unexpectedly passed away in his home. All who knew Brian could see each year progressively took its toll, and these last years really began to sap his strength. Brian passed away after rising early to host a weekly Ham Radio net. The coffee was made; it wasn’t consumed.
Brian was the first child to Robert (Bob) and Patricia (Pat) Crisall. Born while Bob, a member of the RCMP, was posted to the Waskesui, Saskatchewan detachment, Brian was soon joined by sister Robyn and later joined by brothers Tim and Don. Growing up as a ‘cop’s kid’, Brian moved many times with his most formative early childhood memories coming from Prince Albert and Smeaton, Saskatchewan. Bob’s last RCMP post was to Val Marie, Saskatchewan, and this was the place that Brian chose as ‘home’. Brian was from Val Marie.
As a child, Brian was diagnosed with scoliosis which deeply affected him throughout his life, most harshly in his later years. Besides the signature curved spine, Brian also experienced growing loss of feeling in his right hand. Brian endured two operations in his youth spending months laying in a full body cast. Neither of the operations were particularly successful, and they arguably left him in worse shape.
When Bob retired from the RCMP and moved the family to Edmonton, Alberta, Brian continued on in Val Marie where he worked at Legault’s Service Station. While performing this work, Brian’s situation continued to worsen and he eventually had to abandon the tools due to a workplace injury related to the loss of feeling in his right side. Brian moved on to operate a SGI insurance agency where too many office hours in the Val Marie bar were not the recipe for success.
Brian moved to Edmonton where he struggled with alcohol dependency until he found new purpose through the discovery of Ham Radio and his introduction to a strange new thing called the Internet. As Brian’s mobility continually decreased, his circle of contacts and friends increased. As the Internet developed, Brian depended on his computer as much as his radios to keep him occupied and to communicate; probably everyone who knew Brian would have seen at least one of his Photoshop pieces whether it be colorizing, touchup and repair, or his favorite cars as he remembered them.
Brian is survived by his brother Tim (Stefanie) and niece Morgan and brother Don (Deborah). He was pre-deceased by his parents Bob and Pat and sister Robyn. Brian leaves behind several long time friends whose visits and friendship he came to depend on.
Within Ham Radio, when an operator passes away, they become a Silent Key.
In lieu of any flowers or tokens, please consider a donation to any charity that helps with the struggles of the disabled and/or those with substance dependencies.
73, VE6BCA