Daniel Ralph Reist

Daniel Reist, born in Kamloops, British Columbia on July 29th, 1954, passed away on the morning of September 12th, 2023.

Dan was born to James and Ruth Reist and was raised in Barriere, BC.  He is survived by his wife, Debbie, his children, Ben, Bob, Jon (Tash), Justin, Nathan (Terra), Adam (Elise), and Chelsea (Danny), his grandchildren, Eli, Lucas, Matteo, Maëlle, Jane, and Finnley, and his siblings, Dennis, John (Wendy), Esther (Lloyd), Russell, Larry (Lisa), and Eric (Kelly).  Also of great importance to Dan were his many nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues.

The impact of Dan’s words and actions have been significant to so many and his counsel has reached the ears of individuals from all walks of life.  He had an incredible capacity for rational thought and while he had an answer to many of our questions, he’d sooner opt for a dialogue that led only to greater and more interesting questions, occasionally to our great frustration.  Dan’s ability to empower others to think for themselves and discover their own agency was an incredible gift.  He was not a preacher in the traditional sense; his sermons were not mere didactic expositions, but invitations to understand our relationship to God in the context of our own communities…humanity-centered calls to action.  He truly was a man who lived his faith.

Dan’s contributions to his community and to the field of substance abuse research have been myriad.  From facilitating critical discourse among health policy makers and educators alike, to supporting local youth sports and arts programming, Dan has exemplified what it means to be an active, generous, and authentically virtuous human being.  He will be remembered for not only his compassionate and intellectual approach to problem-solving, but also his unwavering commitment to being the ever-wise, uncompromising goofball he was to his grandchildren.  Dan had a sense of humour that was simultaneously silly and acutely philosophical.  He had a propensity for analyzing language and would revel in sharing the contemplative writings of authors like Lewis Carroll and A.A. Milne to any that would listen at the dinner table, a cause that his children continue to champion.

Whether from his role as dedicated husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, pastor, or counselor, Dan will be dearly missed by all who had the great fortune to have known him.  

A celebration of life for Dan will be held in Mission on Sunday, November 12th, 2023. For those wishing to attend, please contact Dan’s daughter, Chelsea, at danreistcelebrationoflife@gmail.com for further service details and to RSVP.