Obituary of Brian Lake
Beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Brian Lake, passed away in Yorkton, SK on April 9th, 2026.
Brian was born in 1944 in Eston, SK to his parents, Ivan and Eleanor (Kraft) Lake. Brian spent most of his early years in Regina. He met his wife, Barbara (McConnell), while curling in high school, and they started their journey as a married couple in July, 1966. The following year, Brian completed his post-secondary education in Electronics Technology at the Saskatchewan Technical Institute and began working for SaskPower. Brian and Barb soon relocated to Yorkton where they put down roots to raise their three children, Gary, Jennifer, and Heather, and ultimately settled into a long and purposeful retirement.
Dad was a jack of all trades and a master of many, in his own way. Decades before the phrase, “life hack”, came to be, Dad became a skilled problem-solver who endeavoured to understand the world around him so that he was always prepared for what came next; he could fix anything. He valued functional quality, simplicity, and taking care of what he had. He rejected consumerism and throwaway culture, not as a grand social commentary, but as a means to living efficiently and intentionally, focusing on what mattered to him: his family, his community, and living well. Dad strived to help his children develop broad sets of skills, knowledge, and confidence in problem-solving so that we could live good lives on our own terms. He resisted the urge to mould his kids according to his own goals and interests, and instead followed our lead and nurtured our passions with dedication and fascination. He enjoyed coaching and cheering for Gary throughout his hockey-playing and other athletic pursuits, while supporting Jen’s and Heather’s musical endeavours, driving them to their many rehearsals and performances and listening to their playing with admiration and pride. He built unique and deeply cherished relationships with all of his children and grandchildren. He made each of us feel seen, valued, and quite possibly, that ours was the most special bond of all.
While Dad retired from a nearly-30-year career at SaskPower at the young age of 52, Yukon Energy occasionally coaxed him out of retirement to utilise his specialised skills in upgrading operating systems in and around Whitehorse. Dad cherished every moment of his newfound freedom; he honed his cooking skills, stayed well-read and informed about current events, took up jogging, and used his extensive computer skills to help his friends and neighbours sort out their home computer woes. He continued his and Barb’s decades-long volunteer work with the Yorkton Music Festival, served in many capacities at Westview United Church, helped others file their taxes via the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, and assisted aging friends and neighbours by driving them to appointments, delivering groceries, and visiting them in the hospital. He lived with a deep sense of humility and a preference for privacy. Dad was always there to lend a hand, but would quietly step back from thanks and recognition as he valued service over acknowledgement. Through all of this, he remained a dedicated partner, father, and grandfather. Part of living well in this time also meant spending extended seasons with Barb at their beloved family cabin, where he never took a sunset or lazy afternoon in the shade for granted.
Despite maintaining a mid-century vocabulary that indulged in phrases like “peachy keen” and “Heavens to Murgatroyd!”, Dad was open-minded and empathetic even through his senior years. He knew enough to understand that his knowledge-base was limited by his own lived experience, and this awareness helped him to engage in the world with compassion, openness to the experiences of others, and gratitude for the resilience-supporting factors that served him and the life he was able to live as a result.
Mom and Dad’s home was a reflection of their life together, built with love and cared for with quiet dedication. In 2021, following Dad’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, they transitioned to Yorkton Crossing, where they found comfort and spoke with deep appreciation for the kindness and care shown to him. This unexpected life change was profoundly disappointing as Dad greatly valued his autonomy, but he accepted the diagnosis and changes it brought with stoicism and grace. He expressed enduring gratitude to his wife, Barb, for her companionship and all she did to care for him during this time, and continued to voice his appreciation for the care he received at the Yorkton and District Nursing Home after his move there in 2024. Nursing home staff recently shared with family that Brian maintained his witty sense of humour and well-intentioned sarcasm, even through the final stages of Parkinson’s. He passed away on April 9th surrounded by loved ones.
Brian is survived by his wife, Barb; son, Gary (Janet) and their children Carter, Cassidy, and Dawson; daughter Jennifer (Aaron) and her child Fletcher and stepchild Cohen; and daughter Heather (Jon) and their children Evelyn and Thomas.
Oh, Dad. We love you. We’ll miss you. How fortunate we all are to have known you and learned from (and with) you. As you often said, “it’s been a slice!”
As per Brian’s wishes, no funeral service will be held. Memorial donations may be made to Westview United Church in Yorkton.
