Oliver died! I think of him often. He and I hit it off back in ’92 when he saw I had a ’64 Epiphone guitar. He wailed on it for half hour or so and then told me two great (and I mean great!) stories about him and guitar. He used to play guitar a long time ago. Years. Hadn’t played much the past couple. Every time he heard about a young person who was taking lessons (or wanted to) he would just give them his guitar and either keep playing the other one he had, or get a new one whenever he could again. No tax write-off for an inkind donation or anything, no press conference, just handing someone a guitar saying “it’s yours now…”
That’s the first one, here’s the second one. Jose Feliciano used to have diabetes. The harshest kind needing the most insulin every day. Over a number of years he privately visited Oliver for 6 door sweats. Changes in diet, sweat and prayers that go along with it gradually got him cutting down on how much insulin (and sugars!) he needed to take each day. He eventually didn’t have diabetes symptoms at all. Doctors were amazed, but of course they refuse to call it a miracle. How may 65 year olds do you know who used to have it and just “kinda sorta” put it behind them??? I don’t know anyone personally like that. And my dad died at 46 having it.
Anyhew, that’s my two stories as told to me by the late Oliver Saunsocie. Rest in Peace, man. You did some stellar stuff your whole life. You are why I try to give away at least one guitar every year and not bother writing it into my taxes or anything.
MACY, Neb. — Oliver Saunsoci Jr., 76, of Macy departed this life Monday, Jan. 21, 2008, at the Winnebago Indian Hospital in Winnebago, Neb.
Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at the Alfred Gilpin Building, with Mr. Frank Saunsoci officiating. Burial will be in Omaha Tribal Cemetery, Macy. Visitation will be held begin today and will continue until service time Friday at the Native American Church (VFW building) in Macy. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh Funeral Home in Pender, Neb.
Oliver was born on June 17, 1931, in a home west of Macy. He attended school in Plainview district 151, a country school. He went on to attend Flandreau Indian School. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Korean War from 1949 to 1953. He was a staff sergeant by the age of 18 years old with the 111th Infantry. He graduated from Milford Technical School for auto body repair, which he practiced for 10 years in Lincoln, Neb.
He was a husband to Charlotte Lasley Saunsoci for 36 years, and a father to eleven children.
He was the cofounder of the Lincoln Indian Center and served on its board of directors. He moved back to the Omaha Indian Reservation in Macy and was the director of the Employment Assistance Program. He attended the Nebraska Indian Community College and was one of its first graduates in 1978. He went on to become director of the Omaha Tribal Housing Authority. He served as chairman of the Omaha Tribal Council in 1980. He was an Environmental Health Technician at the Carl T. Curtis Health Center for 16 years. His other activities included being a bull rider and competing in other rodeo competitions. He also was an activist for Native American Rights and a Tribal Spiritual leader.
He is survived by his daughters, Gail J. Saunsoci of Macy, Olivia Saunsoci of Sioux City, Mary Saunsoci and Michelle Saunsoci, both of Macy; sons, Gary Lasley of South Sioux City, Adrian Saunsoci of Macy, Oliver Evan Saunsoci III, Quentin Saunsoci and Brennan Lasley, all of Macy; 52 grandchildren; 46 great grandchildren; and sisters, Eleanor Baxter and her husband Everett of Macy, Maxine Anderson and her husband Gary of Lincoln, Neb., and Cora Belle Saunsoci of Macy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver Saunsoci Sr. and Mae Blackbird Saunsoci; his wife, Charlotte Lasley Saunsoci; brothers, Franklin, Henry, Gary and Vincent Saunsoci; sisters, Mary Ann Saunsoci Cayou, Anna Belle Saunsoci and Rhea Sue Saunsoci; and children, Timothy, Wayne and Corwin Saunsoci.
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