Edmond Donald Champagne - Wing Commander

PER ARDUA AD ASTRA

(Through Adversity to the Stars)

A proud member of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for 29 years, Edmond took his final flight on 10 May 2023.

“Eddie” is survived by his devoted wife Marie Aimee (nee Danis), the love of his life for over 66 years.

Eddie was also a loving father to Donald Champagne (Christy), Karen Lareau (Claude), Richard Champagne (Tracy), Sandra Champagne (Christian), Gregory Champagne (Natalie), and Jeffrey Champagne (Leesa); grandfather to Carmen (Ben), Francois (Mariana), Merri (Ross), Chantal (Simon), Jessica (Todd), Jennifer (Travis), Holly (Johnny), Derrick, Sebastien, Alex, Olivier, Vincent, Antoni, Connor, Brendan and Ashlyn; and Great-Grandfather to Olivia, Victor, Rayla, Silas, Mackenzie, Dawson, Reverie, and Ellie.

Eddie was predeceased by his parents Hector Champagne and Sarah “Sadie” Champagne (nee Harrison), his older brother Len, and his younger sisters Muriel, Janet, and Pat.

Eddie is lovingly remembered by his siblings Roger (Pat, and the late Inez), Phillip (Marlene), and Jackie (Claude); his former daughter-in-law Andrea, and his many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

As a result of his time serving with the RCAF, Eddie (and his family) were well-travelled. 

He joined the RCAF as a 17-year-old Flight Cadet in February of 1954 and was subsequently trained as a Radio Officer. He was commissioned on 10 December 1954, promoted to Pilot Officer (2^nd Lieutenant), and posted to 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron, RCAF Station Greenwood, where he was employed as a Squadron Radio Officer and flew in the Avro Lancaster, Neptune, and CP-107 Argus.  In February 1955, Eddie was promoted to Flying Officer (1^st Lieutenant).

In June 1958, Eddie was transferred across the hanger line to 103 Search & Rescue Squadron, where he continued to serve as a Radio Officer and Air Observer and flew in the Canso-A and the Sikorsky H-5 helicopter.

Throughout 1961, Eddie retrained into the newly formed Nuclear Biological Chemical Warfare (NBCW) classification and in November of that year he packed up Marie, Donald, Karen and Rick and they all headed to RCAF Station Summerside P.E.I. where he started his posting as the Station Nuclear Defense Officer. In January of 1962 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant (Captain).

In August 1965, the family again packed up (this time with Sandy in tow) and headed to 3 Fighter Wing, Zweibrucken, Germany, where Eddie served as Wing Nuclear Defense Officer. During this tour, Eddie stood out significantly from his peers because of his work performance, volunteerism, and effort towards obtaining his university degree by correspondence. As a result, only two years later he was promoted to Squadron Leader (Major) and received a full scholarship to finish his BA (English) at the University of Ottawa.

A move to Ottawa in August 1967 followed, and with the extraordinary support of his wife Marie, who somehow kept his batch of now five children (Greg had made his entrance) out of his hair so he could write his many papers, Eddie graduated Cum Laude in May of 1969.

Off again in June 1969, this time to Headquarters, Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT), Brunssum, the Netherlands, where Eddie served as an NBCW staff officer, the family (soon to include Jeffrey) enjoyed the tremendous experience of travelling throughout many European countries in their infamous Sprite Major camper trailer and learning about and enjoying the many varied cultures offered in that region.

In July 1972, Eddie and family were posted to Canadian Forces Base Toronto, Ontario, where he was employed as the Base Services Officer. A memorable part of this particular posting was the time they got to spend with Uncle Pidge, Aunt Muriel, Jeanne, and Debbie.    

In August 1974, everyone packed up again and headed to Camp Borden, Ontario where Eddie served as the Chief Instructor of the NBCW school.

In August 1975, Eddie was promoted to Wing Commander (Lieutenant-Colonel) and was posted to Winnipeg to serve under the newly formed Air Command as Senior Staff Officer Personnel Services.  Like the posting to Toronto, there was an additional benefit of spending time with Uncle Bill, Aunt Pat, Brenda, Bill, and Wendy.

In August 1977, Eddie received his last posting as an RCAF officer, to Ottawa, where he served at the National Defence Headquarters as the Director of NBCW.  Eddie, Marie and the kids were finally able to enjoy the benefit of having so many relatives and friends nearby.  Eddie remained in the military until 1983, when he transferred over to the Federal Public Service and served Canada in that capacity for another 10 years.

While certainly impressive, Eddie’s RCAF and Federal Public Service career is not all that defined him. Upon his retirement, he and Marie embarked on an extensive travel itinerary. In their red Jeep Cherokee, (with a new, much larger trailer in tow) they spent the next several years travelling throughout Canada, the United States, and Mexico, visiting family, friends, and pretty much every National/Provincial/State Park in existence.

In 2001, Eddie (and Marie) settled down in their dream home at Turpins Bay on the Bonnechere River (near Killaloe). Good times were had as family and friends visited, and during the times when Eddie and Marie simply enjoyed the solitude and revisited their memories of their many years together as a married couple. 

A few trips out of town with their trailer were still accomplished, but primarily Eddie (and Marie) hung around Killaloe anticipating the regular onslaught of their children and grandchildren on the weekends. Tubing, fishing, swimming, hiking, campfires, singsongs, bocce, croquet, horseshoes, darts, board games and golf were the norm, and multiple generations over the years enjoyed Eddie’s (and Marie’s) hospitality.

Eddie was particularly known for attending garage sales in the Killaloe area; yes he would buy the odd unnecessary item, but his primary motive was just to chat and make new friends. During his final years in Killaloe, Eddie was a dedicated member of the Knights of Columbus and participated in many fundraising and volunteering events.

Special memories include the time Eddie caught his trophy smallmouth bass with a bobber, single hook, and worm, (no one has been able to come close to equalizing this feat), Eddie serving us a meal on a six-inch plate when we said we just wanted a little bit, and Eddie laughing himself silly when he bonked another player’s croquet ball into the next hemisphere. And of course, the image of Eddie walking around his Turpins Bay estate with a glass of Chardonnay in hand surveying the surrounding beauty is permanently imbedded in the memory of all of those who visited him there.

Eddie’s time with us has passed too quickly but we, his family and friends, are grateful for the moments we had. His legacy is his lasting impact on all our lives, as is his selfless contribution to Canada.

We will miss him dearly!

Non Solum Ad Partem Ultra (We Part to Meet Again)