September 19, 2023 –
Merriell V. “Mat we” “Meatball” Wahwassuck
August 26, 1945 – September 16, 2023
Merriell V. “Mat we” “Meatball” Wahwassuck, 78, of Mayetta, KS, passed away Saturday, September 16, 2023 at his home with family by his side. He was born August 26, 1945 in Delia, KS, the son of Johnnie P. Wahwassuck, Jr. and Josette P. (Nahgonbe) Wahwassuck.
Merriell retired as a Boiler Maker and member of Local 627 in Phoenix, AZ. He also worked for Road and Bridge on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation.
He was a member of Drum Religion and Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.
Merriell married Belva Linda Coochise on September 24, 1966 in Cleveland, OH. They celebrated over 50 years of marriage, before her passing on July 3, 2017. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Johnnie and Josette Wahwassuck; 4 sisters, Florence “Gumpy” Ross, Twila “Charlie” Lee, Nancy Conboy and Mamie Rupnicki and 6 brothers, John “Doc” Wahwassuck, Jr, Jewett “Swede” Wahwassuck, Sr., Raphael “Chief” “Bugger” Wahwassuck, Pete Wahwassuck, Henry Wahwassuck and Norman Wahwassuck.
Survivors include 6 children, Merriell V. Wahwassuck, Jr. (Mechelle), Anna M. Boswell (Michael), Cosette Wahwassuck, Jon Wahwassuck, Brandon Wahwassuck and Michael Wahwassuck (Dawn) all of Mayetta, KS; brother, James Wahwassuck of Mayetta, KS; 15 grandchildren, Jeremiah Wahwassuck, Marlena Wahwassuck, Myra Wahwassuck, Trevor Wahwassuck, Logan Boswell, Kacie Boswell, Taryn Boswell, Madison Boswell, Wyatt Boswell, Draven Wahwassuck, Sophia Wahwassuck, Jacob Wahwassuck, Gabriel Wahwassuck, Soonwy Wahwassuck and Taavi Wahwassuck; 9 great-grandchildren, Isabella, Isiah, Liam, Mila, Elijah, Jordan, Jodeci, Roronoa and Haniwah.
Visitation was Sunday, September 17, 2023 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Ttibekwe was at the homeplace following the visitation. Sunrise Graveside was Monday morning, September 18, 2023 at the Prairie Peoples Cemetery on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation.
(Courtesy of Mercer Funeral Home)