Robert Jeffrey Lyttle

Lieutenant Colonel (LCol) Jeff Lyttle, Base Commander (BComd) of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Shilo, died on May 13, 2021 at the age of 46 following a brief illness. He had served Canada for 26 years.

Born and raised in North Bay, ON Jeff joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 1994, graduating from Royal Military College (RMC) with a Bachelor of Engineering in 1998 on the Dean's Honour List. He served on numerous overseas deployments from humanitarian relief efforts in Turkey to operations in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. He held a variety of command and staff positions in the CAF. He assumed command of CFB Shilo in July 2019 and had successfully led Shilo through the recent challenges of military operations during a global pandemic. He was proud to be a Gunner and was honoured to serve as Commander Home Station of the Royal Canadian Artillery.

Jeff is survived by his wife Janet and four daughters Hailey, Emma, Ava and Mackenzie; his mother Lynne and her husband JJ; father Bob and his wife Kathy. He has two sisters, Tracy and her daughter Tommia, and Jennah and her husband James and their children Jade and Jack. He is also survived by his father and mother-in-law Jim and Faye Morden; sister-in-law Julie and her husband Brent and their children Brandon and Bradley; many other extended family and friends nationwide.

Always wearing a smile, Jeff was quick to greet friends - old, new and yet to be - with a firm hand shake. Confident in who he was as a person and professional, he didn't blur the lines and allow one to influence the other. Although known as "Sir" or "LCol Lyttle" or the "BComd" at work, he was Jeff at heart.

A visitation will take place at Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services (280 Beechwood Ave.) on Saturday, September 11th, 2021 from 1-2pm followed by the inurnment in the National Military Cemetery. Upon arrival at the Beechwood Memorial Centre guests are asked to stay in their cars and call 613-741-9530 to announce their arrival, after which a Beechwood staff member will come to greet you. Entry to the viewing area in the hall of colours will be managed by the beechwood staff. After the visitation guests will be guided by vehicle from the Beechwood National Memorial Centre to a parking area in the vicinity of the internment site within the National Military Cemetery. A map of the locations can be found here http://www.beechwoodottawa.ca/sites/default/files/2020-02/Beechwood%20Map.pdf. "Please note that due to ongoing COVID considerations there will unfortunately be no post-service reception."

If you have any questions about the ceremony or to RSVP, please contact Bill Hunt at william.hunt2@forces.gc.ca or 613-281-5092.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. For those who wish, donations can be made to an Education Fund for his four daughters through any Bank of Montreal (BM0) by giving account number 0028 3915 269.

Janet and the family wish to thank the medical staff of Brandon Regional Health Centre for their kind and compassionate care during Jeff's brief illness. Appreciation is extended to the staff of Brockie Donovan Funeral Home for their dedication and professionalism during this time. To the friends and family who have been so supportive, your love and compassion has deeper impact than can be expressed.