Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 70 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
Gordon Thunder
Gordon Thunder, 86, of Fairchild, WI, passed away peacefully and prayerfully at his home in Fairchild on Wednesday, September 18, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was the Kunu, or first born son, to Frank B. and Mary (GreenCrow) Thunder, on August 29, 1939. He had five sisters – Faith (Jim) Matter, Myrtle (Doug) Long, Hope (Tony) Smith, Charity, and Faye (Erwin) Begay – and two brothers, Levi Sr. (Susan née Garvin and Josiah Sr.
His early years began in Hunters Bridge, WI, but the family would often travel throughout the state, picking berries, cherries, or other crops to earn money to help sustain the family. He said even though some would say that was hard work, his Dad always made it seem like fun. His early educational experiences included attending Indian Day school in Neillsville. While he was a student there, he read the Bible, cover to cover, six times. Their parents moved the family to Fairchild where they all lived in a wigwam and their parents ran a basket stand next to Hwy 12. When he was 13, Gordon was involved in a hunting accident that changed the trajectory of his life. He was hospitalized for many months in Madison, WI, recovering from a reconstructed left arm and surgery on his left lung and ribs. He had minimal use of his left arm and hand, as well as a partial left lung and shrapnel that remained in his body, for the rest of his life. His mother advised him to make the most of his abilities because no one was going to feel sorry for him, and he had to make a way for himself. After high school, he succeeded in doing just that, having a long, impressive work life of 58 years.
Gordon married Beverly Cleveland on February 12, 1966, and they settled in Fairchild. Gordon worked at Presto in Eau Claire from 1966 to 1974, then to construction jobs from 1975 to 1980 (where as part of the GLITC ITAC project, the crew who built the new Sand Pillow housing), with few being aware he had any physical limitations. From there, he moved on to administration and leadership roles. He served as Director of the WWBC Food Distribution Program, then became the Chairman of the Wisconsin Winnebago Business Committee in 1987.
During his tenure as Tribal Chairman, the tribe experienced upheaval as it entered the Indian gaming era. He and his administration did their best to help the tribe navigate this period of clashes between external and internal forces, which continued after his term drew to a close in 1991. He returned to work with the tribe, the newly named Ho-Chunk Nation, as the Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO) Director for four years before moving to the Division Manager position in the Language & Culture Division in the Education Department. After three years, he returned to TERO as the Director, and then served the rest of his work life as a Language Instructor then Eminent Speaker in the Language Division.
Throughout his life, he held fast to his faith and strong belief in God. He served as a Roadman and officer in the Greater Eau Claire Chapter of the Native American Church, State of Wisconsin, officiating at hundreds, if not thousands, of namings, baptisms, graduations, weddings, housewarmings, homecomings, doctorings, funerals, and encouragement prayer meetings. He was equally a strong believer in our Hoocąk way of life, sharing stories told to him by his grandfather, Wąkwaxopiniga Henry Thunder, and practicing and teaching our kinship and responsibilities, as well as teaching our Hoocąk language. He enjoyed dancing fancy feather and men’s traditional throughout his youth and into his older adult years, and he also sang with the drum group, The Renegades, in his younger years. He gave presentations throughout his life on spiritual and cultural matters for both Native and non-Native groups and served on numerous boards, committees, and associations on the state, regional and national levels. Like many men of his generation, he loved hunting, fishing, and trapping. He played basketball in his youth and, in his older years, loved watching the Badgers and Packers play but any football in general was good.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank B. and Mary GreenCrow Thunder, his brother, Levi Sr., his sisters, Faith, Hope and Charity; his sons Jonathon, Levi Jr., Timothy, and his daughters Darlene and Cynthia; his granddaughter Brooklyn Kay; nephew Lot Smith II; and close relatives, his uncle, Henry J. GreenCrow Sr., and his nephews, David (Wanahay) Walker and Larry (Haga) Walker.
He leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Beverly (Cleveland) Thunder, and daughters, Mary F. Thunder, Adrienne (J P Leary) Thunder, Nyree (Nick) Kedrowski, and Nicole Thunder; his son, Frank B. Thunder; 12 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Myrtle (Douglas) Long and Faye (Erwin) Begay; and one brother, Josiah Sr.
Native American Church funeral prayer services will be held on Saturday evening into Sunday morning at the Fairchild Community Center, 121 Farmers St., Fairchild, WI. The commitment service will begin at 1:00pm on Sunday, September 21, with NAC funeral rites and burial taking place immediately following at the Fairchild Cemetery.
A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and then from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Fairchild Community Center.
The family is grateful to the nurses and CNAs of St. Croix Hospice and the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta for their kind, compassionate assistance.
Online condolences can be left at www.andersonfhaugusta.com
Mąkųha hojąp ~ Looks Upon the Earth
Maaxi Hoikara – Drifting Cloud
August 29, 1939 – September 18, 2025
