Gerald Lewis 1937-2017
Gerald Francis “Puknina” Lewis, 79, Mayetta, died Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at Osage City Nursing Care Home.
He was born July 21, 1937, in Mayetta, the son of Frank and Martha McKinney Lewis. He graduated from Manhattan High School.
Mr. Lewis worked for A-1 Auto Parts in Manhattan for 19 years and for Santa Fe Railroad for more than 20 years as a track welder. He also was a stock car racer.
He was a member of the Native American Church and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.
He married Vernona “Vernie” L. Knoxsah on March 15, 1972, in Ogden. She survives.
Other survivors include eight children, Sherry Lewis and Sharlene Lopez, both of Topeka, Terry Hernandez and husband Raphael, Minco, Okla., Anna Mahkuk, Topeka, Linda Mahkuk and husband Travis Egbert, Belleview, Rebecca DeVore, Topeka, Robert Lewis, Mayetta, and Melvin Lewis and wife Tiffany, Robinson; two sisters, Delphine Knoxsah, Topeka, and Gale Aitkens, Horton; four brothers, Jeff Lewis, in Virginia, and Roger Lewis, Lyman Shipshee and Kevin Aitkens, all of Mayetta; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Tony Mahkuk, in 2004; and two brothers, Joe Lewis and Melvin Lewis.
Native American Services will be held Thursday evening at Mr. Lewis’ home on the Potawatomi reservation. Burial will be held at sunup Friday in the Danceground Cemetery. Mr. Lewis will lie in state until 3 p.m. Thursday at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton.
