Mamie Rupnicki 1939-2015
Mamie Wahwassuck Rupnicki, 76, Mayetta, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at the F.W. Huston Senior Care in Winchester.
She was born May 21, 1939, on the Potawatomi Reservation at Mayetta, the daughter of John and Josette Nahgonbe Wahwassuck. She received a master’s degree in business from Baker University.
Mrs. Rupnicki and her husband had operated a ranch in Arizona until returning to the Potawatomi Reservation. She served as Chair of the Gaming Commission and later as Tribal Chairperson.
She married Joe Rupnicki in January 1956 in Topeka. He survives.
Other survivors include five children, Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick and wife LeAnne, Delia, Royetta Rodewald, Hoyt, John Rupnicki Sr., Mayetta, Rachel Wamego, Las Vegas, Nev., and Jesse Rupnicki, Soldier; four siblings, James Wahwassuck, Mayetta, Pete Wahwassuck, in Washington state, Merrill “Meatball” Wahwassuck, Mayetta, and Nancy Wahwassuck Conboy, Mayetta; 21 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and six siblings, Doc Wahwassuck, Twila “Charlie” Lee, Raphael “Bugger” Wahwassuck, Florence “Gumpy” Ross, Henry Wahwassuck and Jewette “Swede” Wahwassuck.
Drum services will be held Friday evening at the Dance Ground west of Mayetta. Burial will be held Saturday afternoon in the Dance Ground Cemetery. Mrs. Rupnicki will lie in state at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hoyt, where family and friends will meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.
