October 02, 2014
Melvin H. “Sonny” Jessepe, 67, formerly of Mayetta, died Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at the Marshalltown Medical Center in Marshalltown, Iowa.
He was born December 25, 1946 in Holton, the son of Henry and Margaret Wabski Jessepe. He graduated from Washburn University in 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science. He was also a licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor.
Sonny was a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. He spent most of his life in Topeka and attended Sullivan Chapel.
He was currently working at the Meskwaki Casino in Tama, Iowa where he had lived for the past 13 years. He had been previously employed with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sunny Sue Jessepe and brothers, Chris and Theodore Puckkee, Algernon Jessepe, and sisters, Mary Earwood and Stephanie Sullivan.
Survivors include a daughter, Marlena Jordan and husband Kevin, Mayetta, and four grandchildren, Jaime, Adria, Marlissa and Kobe. He is also survived by longtime companion, Lillian Edwardson, and many nieces and nephews, including Rhonda Puckkee.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 7th at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Dance Ground Cemetery. Sonny will lie in state until 3:00 p.m. Monday at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hoyt. He will lie in state after 4:00 p.m. Monday at Sister Therese Klepac Hall on the church grounds, where a Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. On-line condolences may be made at chapeloaksfuneralhome.com