Genevieve “Gene” Waseskuk

Genevieve Waseskuk

TAMA-Genevieve “Gene” Waseskuk, 95, of Tama, passed away Friday, June 11, 2021 at Sunny Hill Care Center in Tama under the care of the Hospice of the Midwest. A Traditional Wake will be held Saturday evening on June 12, 2021 starting at 5:00 PM at the Mesquakie Friends Church, 1898 350th St, Tama. A Christian Funeral Service will be held Sunday, June 13, 2021 at 12:30 PM at the church with putting down tobacco at 1:30 PM. Traditional Graveside Services will follow at 2:00 PM at the Meskwaki Cemetery on the Meskwaki Settlement in rural Tama. Officiants will be Mac McDonald and Gaylord Walker.

Genevieve “Gene” Hill Waseskuk was born at Veblen, SD on November 13, 1925 to Lucas and Eliza (Plum) Hill. In 1938 after her parents passed away, she and her brother, Solomon entered the orphanage. Solomon was not yet school age, so she was with him to look after him. When he was ready for first grade, her oldest brother, Solon who was employed at the Wahpeton Indian school where he had Gene and Solomon enrolled. They joined their other brother Sampson, who was already a student there. After graduation from the 8th grade, she graduated high school from Haskell Indian School in Kansas. It was here that a friend introduced her, through letter writing, to Bill Waseskuk, of Tama, IA. They eventually met, while he was on leave, in Kansas City. They were married in 1946, when Bill was discharged from the service. On November 25, 1946 they welcomed their only son Bruce. She was an Avon lady for many years in the Montour area. She was devoted to her church, Mesquakie Friends. She was the kitchen lady in the church for the children’s program up until March of 2020. She enjoyed the Meskwaki Senior Service program and all the activities there. She made prize worthy banana bread, banana cream pie and cream puffs. She was a quilter and a seamstress. If you own one of her handcrafted rattles, you own a treasure. Gene could skin a wild game like no other and create an amazing feast out of it. Her stories are known world around because she loved to share them with everyone she met. Gene didn’t know a stranger. Gene loved us all and mostly, she loved Jesus.

Left to mourn her passing: Her three grandchildren- Alan Waseskuk (Toledo), Anissa Waseskuk (Toledo), and Anna Waseskuk (Marshalltown); 7 great grandchildren- Kaitlyn Waseskuk (Tama), Laezlow Waseskuk (Tama), Aiden Waseskuk (Toledo), Aubrey Eams Waseskuk (Indianola), Dominic Waseskuk (Toledo), Franchesca Waseskuk Delgado (Atlanta, GA), Jonathan Waseskuk (Marshaltown), Mary Waseskuk (Marshalltown); 9 great-great grandchildren; Skyla Shadden (Tama), Jason Waseskuk (Tama), Jason Waseskuk (Tama), Katherine Propp (Tama), Aaliyah Chavarria (Atlanta, GA), Michael Delgado,( Atlanta, GA), Arianna Delgado (Atlanta, GA), LeeAnna Waseskuk Lara (Marshalltown), Roman Waseskuk Lara (Marshalltown) and Evalyn Carrillo (Marshalltown).

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill and her son Bruce, five brothers, Solon, Ben, Sampson, Solomon and infant brother Ervin; two sisters, Margaret and Hazel, and twin Waseskuk girls.

Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home, Tama-Toledo is assisting the family with the arrangements.