Ernest Louis Chouinard

On May 19^th, 2021 Ernest Louis Chouinard passed away peacefully in his sleep at Parkland Lodge in Edson, Alberta. 

Ernest Louis was born the third child and the first son to Louis and Lena Chouinard in the Bonnyville Hospital on October 29^th, 1937. 

Growing up in a French catholic community Ernie could always be found with his father who was the local blacksmith.  Louis called him his “little man” and took him everywhere he went. Ernie got his sense of community and his quick wit from his Dad.

Ernie started his first job at the age of 12 when he was the water boy for his dad and uncles while building the Jasper Park Lodge. He then followed the work to Quesnel BC where he met and married the love of his life Caroline Rose Crotteau on August 16^th, 1958 in Quesnel BC. Then they moved to the family farm in LaCorey where Dennis was born. Following the work back to Quesnel, Shirley and Gean quickly followed. Again, following the work, Ernie and Carol moved back to Hinton where Bob joined the family the same year Darlene was born. Then, returning to LaCorey to take over farming from his parents, Lynn rounded out the family. After the Oilfield bust of the late 70s the family moved to Edson in 1982 and started E&C Services.

Ernie found great pleasure in the babies even though he could not remember any of the names. They were all my man and my girl.  To be fair with 6 children of his own and 33 nieces and nephews it hard to hold that against him. Family was always very important to him above all else.

Ernie went as far as completing Grade 6. Even though not formally educated he was a hard-working businessman. He worked various jobs including, but not limited to, farming, road construction, various heavy equipment operations and finally snow removal until he retired. Running equipment was always his passion.

Dad was a great lover of animals.  All the milk cows were his pets, and he knew them all by name. We had a pet pig named Pinky and a couple of his favorite dogs were Blackie and Shep.

It was dads’ great pleasure to be asked to give away his niece at her wedding in 1992.  He and mom travelled to Ontario unknowingly during the first Blue Jays run for the World Series.  They made it to the wedding and back, but dad was never able to get mom back on an airplane.

In 2001 Dad found out he had prostate cancer.  This was devastating. He bravely prevailed and lived with the repercussions of the treatment. 

Dad enjoyed woodworking in his shop.  After life slowed down in retirement years Ernie built many projects including tables, bat boxes, blanket boxes, spinners, chairs, and toys.

In 2001 Ernie & Carol travel across Canada with good friends.  They made it all the way to Newfoundland and back.  It took them most of the summer, but it was well worth it.  Then they traveled to Alaska in 2009 to round out the adventure.

He leaves behind his loving wife of almost 63 years Carol Chouinard; 6 children, Son Dennis (Brenda) daughter Shirley, Son Gean (Karin), Son Bob (Roxy), daughter Darlene (Kevin), daughter Lynn (Spencer)grandchildren: Jennifer, Shelly, Tyler, Amanda, Spencer, Brandon, Meagan, Kevin, Shelby, Jeanine, Eric, Stephen, Kristen, Nicole, Ryan, Darin and Step grandchildren Erin, Thomas, Marty, Candice, Brenda, Chandra and Nathan.  He also leaves behind 12 great grand children.

He was predeceased by his parents Louis and Lena Chouinard, father in-law Eugene Crotteau, mother in-law Hazel Crotteau, two young sons Arthur and Joseph, all his siblings; Helen Hamel, Marie-Anne Dumaine, Anna Stevenson, Stella Stevenson, Jackie Chouinard, Lorrette Cooper, Felix Chouinard and David Chouinard, his son in-law Roger Sobush and his first “man”, grandson Justin Gean Chouinard.

He was an amazing husband and loving and caring father.  He was a prankster and joker, and we will all miss his “inappropriate” comments and those twinkling blue eyes.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Parkland Lodge in Ernie’s memory. 

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