Obituary for Pastor Randy Douglas Ariss
Pastor Randy was born to Harold and Norma Ariss on August 8, 1947 in Kitchener, Ontario. Randy was the fourth of eight children. He passed on to be with Jesus on December 17, 2019.
Randy’s family relocated to Calgary at a young age, where he went on to spend most of his younger years. He joined the Navy at the age of 17. He was transferred to the base in Aldergrove, where he met the love of his life, Lynn Arnestad.
They were married in 1970, and started their family when Cynthia Lea was born in 1972. They moved back to Calgary in 1973. It was around this time that Randy re-dedicated his life to Christ and soon committed his life to full-time ministry. Randy attended Mountain View Bible School while living in Condor, Alberta. Crystal Lynn was born in 1976, and Amber Dawn followed in 1978.
His pastoral ministry began in Condor and Gimlet, two small communities in Central Alberta. He continued to pastor the church in Condor until 1991, when they made the decision to move to Weldon, Saskatchewan. They welcomed their first granddaughters, Kaylea Lynn in 1992, and Kristin Deanna in 1995, both born to Cindy.
Randy accepted a position to pastor at Christian Life Centre in Fort St. John in 1997. They welcomed their angel daughter Autumn Rose later that year. In 1999, Amber married Bernie Schellenberg, and gave Randy his first grandson, Cache Luke in 2002, followed by Zoe Bridget in 2007, and Jesse James in 2010.
In 2006, Crystal married Louis Syrenne, at which time Jacy Elizabeth and Nicole Louise joined the family, and were loved as Randy’s very own granddaughters.
In 2014, Cindy married Yves Bourbonnais, and Randy was pleased to add his third grandson Dominic to the family.
Randy continued to pastor at the same church until he retired in 2015. They moved to Melfort, Saskatchewan to be closer to family in their retirement. He came out of retirement in 2017 to lead the congregation at St. James Presbyterian Church in Melfort. Randy was blessed to have met his great-grandson, Mason Randall George, born to Kaylea in March 2019.
Randy loved people of all ages and walks of life. He connected with people over his love of sports, specifically the Calgary Flames and Stampeders. He enjoyed his family and was especially blessed when everyone could be together.
Randy is survived by his loving wife Lynn, daughters Cindy (Yves) Bourbonnais, Crystal (Louis) Syrenne, Amber (Bernie) Schellenberg, and Autumn Ariss, grandchildren Kaylea (Mitch) and Kristin Ariss, Dominic Bourbonnais, Jacy and Nicole Syrenne, Cache, Zoe and Jesse Schellenberg, great-grandson Mason Taylor, siblings Colleen (Jim) Gies, Greg (Joan) Ariss, Penni (Malcolm) Turner, Ted (Carol) Ariss, Dan (Doug) Ariss, Phil (Sandra) Ariss, brother-in-law Gerry Neufeld, sister- in-law Val Ariss, as well as a multitude of nieces and nephews.
Our family would like to express our deep appreciation for the outpouring of love, prayers, and food during this time. For future reference, we like mozza sticks. May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Randy’s family relocated to Calgary at a young age, where he went on to spend most of his younger years. He joined the Navy at the age of 17. He was transferred to the base in Aldergrove, where he met the love of his life, Lynn Arnestad.
They were married in 1970, and started their family when Cynthia Lea was born in 1972. They moved back to Calgary in 1973. It was around this time that Randy re-dedicated his life to Christ and soon committed his life to full-time ministry. Randy attended Mountain View Bible School while living in Condor, Alberta. Crystal Lynn was born in 1976, and Amber Dawn followed in 1978.
His pastoral ministry began in Condor and Gimlet, two small communities in Central Alberta. He continued to pastor the church in Condor until 1991, when they made the decision to move to Weldon, Saskatchewan. They welcomed their first granddaughters, Kaylea Lynn in 1992, and Kristin Deanna in 1995, both born to Cindy.
Randy accepted a position to pastor at Christian Life Centre in Fort St. John in 1997. They welcomed their angel daughter Autumn Rose later that year. In 1999, Amber married Bernie Schellenberg, and gave Randy his first grandson, Cache Luke in 2002, followed by Zoe Bridget in 2007, and Jesse James in 2010.
In 2006, Crystal married Louis Syrenne, at which time Jacy Elizabeth and Nicole Louise joined the family, and were loved as Randy’s very own granddaughters.
In 2014, Cindy married Yves Bourbonnais, and Randy was pleased to add his third grandson Dominic to the family.
Randy continued to pastor at the same church until he retired in 2015. They moved to Melfort, Saskatchewan to be closer to family in their retirement. He came out of retirement in 2017 to lead the congregation at St. James Presbyterian Church in Melfort. Randy was blessed to have met his great-grandson, Mason Randall George, born to Kaylea in March 2019.
Randy loved people of all ages and walks of life. He connected with people over his love of sports, specifically the Calgary Flames and Stampeders. He enjoyed his family and was especially blessed when everyone could be together.
Randy is survived by his loving wife Lynn, daughters Cindy (Yves) Bourbonnais, Crystal (Louis) Syrenne, Amber (Bernie) Schellenberg, and Autumn Ariss, grandchildren Kaylea (Mitch) and Kristin Ariss, Dominic Bourbonnais, Jacy and Nicole Syrenne, Cache, Zoe and Jesse Schellenberg, great-grandson Mason Taylor, siblings Colleen (Jim) Gies, Greg (Joan) Ariss, Penni (Malcolm) Turner, Ted (Carol) Ariss, Dan (Doug) Ariss, Phil (Sandra) Ariss, brother-in-law Gerry Neufeld, sister- in-law Val Ariss, as well as a multitude of nieces and nephews.
Our family would like to express our deep appreciation for the outpouring of love, prayers, and food during this time. For future reference, we like mozza sticks. May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.