GEORGE COURNOYER JR.

Funeral services for George L. Cournoyer, Jr., 41, of Wagner were Monday, December 28 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Marty. Burial was in the Holy Fellowship Episcopal Cemetery, rural Greenwood. Peters Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

George was born January 2, 1979 in Wagner, to George Sr. and Kathy Cournoyer. George died Monday, December 21, 2020 at his home in Wagner.

George attended Wagner school up to the 7th grade. His 8th grade year was spent at St. Joseph’s Indian School. He attended most of high school at Chamberlain where he was part of the team there that made it to the state basketball tournament in 1996 and 1997. He returned to and graduated from Wagner in 1998. George attended Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas from 2000- 2001. He returned home and started working at the Fort Randall Casino in purchasing for many years. He worked various jobs until getting hired at the Yankton Sioux Housing Authority as a maintenance worker for the last three anda half years. He was also currently employed at the Fort Randall Casino as a bingo caller where he had been for three years.

George will be remembered for the love he had for the game of softball. He played third base, first base and catcher. He could knock the ball out of the park! He traveled from state to state for tournaments.

George always had a smile on his face and was always willing to help anyone in need. Whenever a person needed help they knew they could depend on Bug. He had a great love for his family and friends. He was an amazing Dad to his nine year old daughter, McKenzie Wahca, and she was truly the love of his life.

George is survived by his mother Kathy; his daughter McKenzie Wahca; his brothers: Nick, Jeremy Sr. and Joey Sr. (Antoinette); his sisters: Krystle and Charline (Jim); nieces: Resaiah, Rebecca, Lauren, Keith, Sydney, Jaylah, Kynzley and Myracle; nephews: Carter, Joey Jr., Brady, Cruz, Ryker, Ryder and Jeremy Jr. He is also survived by many aunties, uncles, cousins and extended family members and great friends. George will always be missed and never forgotten by the countless number of people who loved him dearly.

George was preceded in death by his father George L Cournoyer Sr.; nephew Isaiah Cournoyer; maternal grandmother Charlene Gunhammer; paternal grandparents James and Ethel (Eddy) Cournoyer; uncles Melvin Cournoyer Sr., Larry Cournoyer and Alfred Gunhammer.