Ernest Stephan Koshman (LCdr Retired)

Ernest Koshman passed away from complications from Parkinson’s and a broken hip.

Ernie was known by many names over his life:  Ernie, Brother, Husband, Mr. Koshman, Sir, Dad, Grandpa, Gedo, Scouter Koshman, Scouter Ernie, Uncle Scouter Ernie and occasionally by his mother as ‘that Ernie.”

He is survived by his wife Lynnette; sons Mikkyal (Cherie), Scott (Carissa), Stephan; sisters Evelyn (Ivan Biblow) and Rosalee (Orest Dororh); grandchildren Andrew, Camryn, and Josie; brother-in-Law Wayne Anderson (Laurie) and sister-in-Law Mavis Anderson.  He always enjoyed his time with his nieces and nephews, Michelle, Shannon, Shawn (Lynn), Shane, Jackie, and great nieces and nephews:  Matthew, James, Katie Rose, Cheryl, Payton and Sienna, Mackenzie, Hunter.

He was brought up on a farm in Theodore, Saskatchewan.  The youngest child of Steve and Kate Koshman.  He joined the Boy Scouts and loved the outdoor camping program, camaraderie and learning new skills.   In High School he won awards for Public Speaking, IODE medal for English, Music, Science and Mathematics; one of favourite subjects was French.

He loved music and learned to play the Trumpet.  He used to practice his trumpet outside on the farm and the cows would come to the fence to listen.  He played in the Theodore High School Concert Band and in the College of Education Band at the University of Saskatchewan.   In Semans he directed the community choir and played his trumpet for concerts and Remembrance Day. 

He went to the University of Saskatchewan and graduated with a degree in Physics and a Professional A Teaching Certificate.  After graduation, he taught school for four years; 3 years in Semans, Saskatchewan and one in Moosomin, Saskatchewan.  He had many good memories of teaching in Semans but one of his best memories of was when, after he has accepted a job at a larger school, the Semans students bought him, as a thank you, fishing gear and then taught him how to fish; the teacher became the student.   Ernie used to say, “You know you have done something right when the students are comfortable enough to mentor their teacher in a new skill.”  He kept in touch with many of his students’ families and many of came to visit in Victoria, Halifax and Ottawa.

In 1972 he married Lynnette. 

Ernie had always wanted to join the military but promised his parents he would get an education first.  In 1975 he joined the Canadian Navy and started his career as a Naval Combat Systems Engineering Officer.  He sailed on several ships in Esquimalt but spent most of the sea time sailing out of Halifax on HMCS Algonquin and HMCS Nipigon.  He loved the NATO trips which took him to Iceland, England, Scotland, Netherlands etc.   

When HMCS Nipigon went into refit Ernie began the next phase of his career ‘sailing a desk’. This new path had Ernie travelling around North America and Europe to see and work with engineering projects, missile shoots, and other Navy related modernization projects.  After four years of working with the Tribal Refit and Update Modernisation Program in Ottawa, Ernie was posted to Staff College in Toronto.  His next posting was to Washington D.C. where he was defence liaison officer from 1993-1998 before returning to Ottawa.

After retiring from the Navy he continued on in the Federal Public Service.

Ernie was heavily involved in Scouting where he worked mostly with Scouts, Venturers and Rovers.   He and Lynnette founded the First Canadian Embassy Scout Group in Washington, D.C.  Overall, he spent four decades supporting and mentoring youth, volunteering in District and Regional capacities.  Ernie attended two Jamborees:  CJ 97 as the Venturer Advisor for Embassy Scout Group and as an Offer of Service at CJ01.  He volunteered with the Scouts Canada National Museum.  He enjoyed his time as a member of the BP Guild.

A Funeral Service will be held at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 10:00AM. Burial Services to follow in the National Military Cemetery of Beechwood Cemetery. For those not able to attend Ernie’s Service in person, you may register at the following link to view the livestream of the service - Ernie's Livestreamed Service

In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations to the Queensway Carleton Foundation or the No One Left Behind Program – Scouts Canada would be appreciated.