MAYETTA- Johnnie P. Wahwassuck, Jr. "Wah-sa-ge-zhuk", 82, of Mayetta, KS died Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at a Topeka hospital. He was born August 31, 1925 in Mayetta, the son of Johnnie P. Wahwassuck, Sr. and Josette Nagonbe Wahwassuck. He lived most of his life on the Potawatomi Reservation. He had also lived in Topeka and in Washington State where he worked for Yakama Nation Forestry. He had worked for Skinner Nursery and Blackburn Nursery in Topeka. He was a member of Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.
He was married to Roberta Lucei on July 15, 1975 in Holton, KS. She survives. Other survivors include his children, Sandra Lee of Lincoln City, OR, Ronnie Thomas of Warm Springs, OR, Layton Abbott of Bellcourt, ND, Larry Picard of Hoyt, KS, Pam Simon of Horton, KS, Theresa Hutchinson of Canterbury, NH, John P. Wahwassuck of Topeka, KS, Roberta Wahwassuck of Mayetta, KS, Lorrie Wahwassuck of Delia, KS and Ahnah Wahwassuck of Mayetta, KS; his sisters, Nancy Conboy of Mayetta, KS and Mamie Rupnicki of Circleville, KS; his brothers, Raphael Wahwassuck of Waynesville, MO, Pete Wahwassuck of Bellingham WA, James Wahwassuck and Merriel Wahwassuck both of Mayetta, KS and Henry Wahwassuck of Folway, MN; 27 grandchildren and many great and great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Edwin Thomas; daughter, Debbie Lucei; sisters, Twila Lee and Florence Ross; and brothers, Norman and Jewitt Wahwassuck.
Drum services will be Saturday evening at the Danceground west of Mayetta. Burial will be in the Prairie Peoples Cemetery on Sunday afternoon. He will lie in state until 3:00 p.m. Saturday at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton, KS.