ROBERT COURNOYER

Wake services for Robert (Bobby) Wayne Cournoyer will be held at the Wagner Armory on Tuesday, January 28 at 7 p.m. Funeral mass will be held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, in Marty on Thursday, January 29 at 10:00 a.m. Burial service is at the St. Paul Catholic Cemetery in Marty. A funeral reception will be held following at the Wagner National Guard Armory.

Robert was born October 4, 1952, to Stephan Cournoyer Sr. and Pearl LeDeau Cournoyer in Wagner. Bobby died Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Bobby graduated from St. Paul’s Indian Mission, Marty, and attended several years at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. He married Adele Crow then Karen White Horse, who was his life partner for 35 years. Bobby was blessed with five children: Wesley “Buddy” Hare, Wagner; Danielle Raymond, Camille Cournoyer and Robert Cournoyer Jr., Sioux Falls and Simone Cournoyer, Wagner. He had 25 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren with one on the way.

Bobby was a Vietnam Era Veteran, Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging and U.S. Army Medic. He was a man who wore many hats. He was a cleric, farmer, tribal police officer, Marty Indian School Dining Room Manager and Marty Indian School dorm counselor. He owned Cournoyer Construction. He was a Yankton Sioux Tribe Housing Development Programs officer, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Housing, Yankton Sioux Tribal Vice Chairman (two terms), and Yankton Sioux Tribal Chairman (three terms).

In his spare time, Bobby enjoyed gardening, traveling, visiting in person and on the phone. He loved spending time with everyone, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bobby enjoyed cooking out and sharing a meal. He enjoyed hunting, digging wild turnips, picking chokecherries, and morel mushrooms. He always knew where the sage and medicines were located.

Bobby is survived by his wife Karen White Horse; his five children: Wesley “Buddy” Hare (Brandi Belgard) and their three children; Danielle Raymond and six children; Camille Cournoyer and her three children; Robert Cournoyer Jr. and his four children; and Simone Cournoyer (Anthony Almaguer) and her two children; two step-children: Ruby Stricker and her three children; Francis Stricker and four children; his siblings: Stephan II, twin Raymond Sr., Donald Sr., Thomas, Faith, Mark, Agnes, Gary, Sr., Jody, Vincent, Baptiste Sr., and Gerald Sr.

Bobby was preceded in death by: His father Stephan Cournoyer Sr., mother Pearl Cournoyer, and brother Gregory Cournoyer Sr.