JOHN SQUIRREL COAT
Funeral services for John Squirrel Coat, 46, of Lake Andes were held Thursday, February 2 at the White Swan Community Center in Lake Andes. Burial was in the Cedar Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Lake Andes. Peters Funeral Home in Wagner was in charge of arrangements.
John Gail Squirrel Coat “Wakinyan Nunpa” was born February 8, 1976 to his Ina Lynda Squirrel Coat and Gil Jimmy. He was born at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls and entered the Spirit World on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at the same place at the age of 46 years. 13 days before his 47th birthday. John knew “Jesus and his Savior” at the age of 18 months old, with the guidance of Rev. Patricia Stitlner (Miss Patty) and Miss Carol. He was dedicated to GOD by Rev Stitlner when he was 18 months old. Later he had the guidance of Rev. Calvin Gale (Grandpa Gale). Rev. Gale taught him how to drive a floor shift. John would drive Grandpa Gale to visit the local healthcare centers and the jail. They would sing, read scriptures, and pray with the residents.
John attended Andes Central Schools from Kindergarten to the 11th grade. He did like school, concerts, music, band, art and at the end of the year relays, Jr. High and High School.
John learned his traditions, language, and spiritual ways by being involved in all family gatherings and matters. His Uncle George Squirrel Coat and Uncle Garry Holy Bull brought him into the circle (Wiwanyagwacipi) at Sisseton. He danced when he was 15 years old and received his name “Wakinyan Nunpa”. His name came from lightning scaring him twice. The lightning came up from the ground and cracked right by the car he was in. His sacred Cannunpa came to him when he was 17 years old, and his Uncle George Squirrel Coat taught him the ways of the Cannunpa until his passing in 1999, after which John’s life had changed.
John started his home in Lake Andes in 1981 at the age of five. He was the first to have a NIntendo and VCR. His home became a hang out for all of the housing boys, which led to lifetime BROS.
In 1983 John was put on the Ft. Randall Pow-Wow Committee as a fireman, then the next year Fireman/Head Cook. He enjoyed being on the committee and made a lot of friends from different reservations. He had three firemen and ten cooks to run the cook shack. He served on the committee from 1983 to 1998, after which he turned it over to Micah Wade, but stayed on to help until 2007. John had a great talent for drawing and painting. In his spare time he listened to music (Native and English), watched movies, threw darts, played on his phone, escaped Facebook Jail, and watched Impractical Jokers. He was on multiple teams: Native Ones, Damn Nation, and Money Shots to name a few.
John came from the Shoshoni Piaute, Rosebud, and Yankton Sioux Tribes. His ancestors were names like: Mad Bull, Pretty Feather, Rising Cloud, Eagle Track, Black Bear, Stands on Island, and Good Lance. He had a soul before his time, was kind hearted, respectful, and didn’t respect anyone who disrespected him, or his family and friends. He was never afraid to speak his mind and told people exactly how it was.
John is survived by his Ina Lynda; Aunts: Arlene Thompson, Barbara Linden, Natalie Medicine Bear and Jenny Fluery; brother/cousins: Eric Gravatt, David Patterson, Perry Sitting Crow, Clyde and Kardesten Squirrel Coat, Tyson Fairbanks and Scott and Rick Miller; Sister/ cousins: Jessica and Angeline Squirrel Coat, Nadine Fairbanks, Crystalline Bauer, Shirley Cruz, Rose and Lana Gravatt, Lisa Miller and Yvonne Rainbow.
John was preceded in death by his Aunts: Tillie Wells, Elsie Patterson, Martha High Pipe, Margaret Rouse and Olemae Gravatt; Uncles: George Squirrel Coat, Matt Spirit Track, Omar High Pipe and his Hunka Uncle Roy Wade Sr. Sister/cousins: Patty Sitting Crow, Danielle Squirrel Coat, Celeste and Delilah Patterson; Brother/cousins: Mike Wells and Larry Thompson as well as his friend and Bro Joseph Bruguier; Grandmas: Sophia Archabeau and Eunice Rainbow.