Drusa Wabaunsee 1937-2021
Drusa Fay “Kikiqwah” Wabaunsee, 84, of Hoyt, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, surrounded by family at the Onaga Hospital in Onaga.
She was born March 1, 1937, in Horton, the daughter of Robert E. and Carrie (Puckee) Masquat. She graduated from Topeka High School in 1955. She also attended Haskell Indian Technical Institute and Highland Community College.
Drusa worked as a secretary at Royal Valley High School in Hoyt. She worked in the soft count room for many years at Prairie Band Casino and Resort. She also worked alongside her husband Will in his business, Will’s Drywall, until his retirement.
She was a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and a descendant of the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas. She was also a member of St. Francis Xavier Church and the Altar Society. She was also a member of the Royal Valley Booster Club, Impact Aid, JOM, Title VII, tribal election board and Hoyt election board.
On Feb. 24, 1962, Drusa was united in marriage to Will Wabaunsee at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Mayetta. They shared more than 39 years of marriage before Will passed away on May 9, 2001.
Drusa is survived by a son, Lil Will Wabaunsee (Amy) of Tulsa, Okla.; four daughters, Carrie O’Toole (Jim) of Mayetta, Elizabeth Wabaunsee-Tye of Hoyt, Shawnna Wabaunsee of Mayetta and Ah-Sha-Ni Wabaunsee of Topeka; 17 grandchildren, Kateri, Christopher, Kavan, Josh, Lara, Wilburn, Zabrina, Pallas, Alston, Quo-Jon, Mimi, Alejandra, Elena, Gloria, Victor, Eric and Xavier; 24 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Will; three sisters, Val McKinney, Carole Garrison and Yvonne “Tee” Villegas; and a brother, Eugene “Chub” R. Masquat.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Mayetta. Burial will follow in Shipshee Cemetery. A rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Tuesday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Mayetta. The family will receive friends following the rosary all evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Royal Valley Booster Club, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave Drusa’s family a condolence, visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
