Anthony Lucas Awonohopay Jr., passed peacefully in his home on the Maple Plain Reservation, Wisconsin, on March 13, 2025. His Menominee name was “Kaywaska,” which means Thunder Turning Around. He was named after the great Thunderbirds, powerful and sacred spirits. He was the most optimistic person who held amazing strength and courage from his namesakes in the face of numerous illnesses and medical challenges.

Wask was born on September 25, 1983, and was the third child of Anthony Sr. and Jeanne Awonohopay. He was a traditional man who was the Pipe Man and then the First Ogimaa on the ceremonial Big Drum. Wask grew up loving bike-riding around the rez, playing with Transformers, competing in Pokemon tournaments, dancing like Michael Jackson, and watching all the Godzilla and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movies. He also loved Japanese culture and landscapes, collected Samurai swords, and it was his lifelong dream to visit Japan.

In 2004, Wask’s twin children (Cyrus and Winter) were born. It was the happiest day of his life and the driving force for his lifelong battle against the odds. Wask lived for his children and whenever he needed strength in his battle, he remembered their birth. With this strength, he was able to witness his twins become grown-ups and begin their adult lives. Wask was so proud of his children.

In his later years as his health declined, Wask enjoyed listening to as many audiobooks as he could, keeping up on politics and current events, talking to his family on the telephone, listening to throwback 1990s jams, cuddling his two cats, and visiting with all his nephews.

Wask is survived by his children Cyrus and Winter, his mother Jeanne, sisters Aimee and Amanda, nephews Trenton, Tyrone Jr, Parker, Teran and Hysen, uncle, BahWahSung Merrill, and beloved cats Smoky and Onyx. He was preceded in death by his father Anthony Sr, brother Tyrone Sr, paternal grandparents Johnson and Frances Awonohopay, maternal grandparents Johnny and Grace Bearhart, cousin Robert Lemieux Jr, and nephew Remy Awonohopay.

Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM on March 15, 2025, at the Maple Plain Community Center. Traditional Midewin funeral services will be held at the Maple Plain Community Center on March 16, 2025, at 10:00 AM.

Vincent Merrill and Joey Awonohopay are officiants. Pallbearers are Ryan Dominick, Adam Waukau, Antonio Waukau, Carlos Merrill, Colten Begay and Reuben Crowfeather, Jr. Honorary pallbearers are Cyrus and Winter Awonohopay, Trenton Awonohopay, Mauricio Hart, Parker Awonohopay, Jeremy Freer, David Haverly II, and Blake Awonohopay.

Last Update: Mar 14, 2025 1:26 pm CDT