Thomas “Tommy Sunfish” Nacotee, Sr., age 66 of South Branch, passed away on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Appleton. Tommy was born on May 25, 1954 to the late Agnes N. Gauthier at home in South Branch. He was raised by his mother Agnes, her husband Pete Gauthier, and grandparents Mitchell and Charlotte Nacotee. Tommy attended St. Joseph’s until the 8th grade. He then attended Shawano High School and graduated in 1972. Tommy was united in marriage to Gloria June Summers who preceded him in death on November 16, 2019. Tommy worked for the Neenah foundry and then moved back to the Menominee Reservation to be a police officer for the Menominee Tribal Police Department. He also was a logger and worked for the Menominee Casino as a security guard before retirement. Tommy was a provider for his family and instilled how to live off the land to his children, nieces, and nephews. He spent his time hunting, fishing, gardening, canning, running the sugar camp, processing venison, picking cherries and other berries. Tommy loved his four favorite teams, the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Wisconsin Badgers football team, and Milwaukee Bucks.
Tommy is survived by his children, Michael (Jen) Smith, Rebecca (Jason) Komanekin, Lorraine Nacotee, Tammy (Jamie) Komanekin, Thomas (Evelyn) Nacotee, Jr., and Shirley (Donald) LaTender; grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Ian, Tyler (Libby Awonohopay), Jason Jr., Nariah, Lashay, Areyah, Abby, Lukas, Jamison, Tae-Sha, Elmyrah, Keira, Thomas III, Kaylee, Marquise, Kiandra, Amrani, Amari, Riley, and Kya; great grandson, Giovanni; special son, Russell Peters; godchildren, Shawnee and Dean; siblings, Evelyn Nacotee and Rosie “Gun” Madosh; special sisters and brothers, Jayne Nacotee, Merlynn (James) Johnson, Lee Py, Rose “Tootsie” Waupoose, Richard Nacotee and Tony Gauthier.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria; son, Craig; mother, Agnes Gauthier and her husband Pete Gauthier; grandparents, Mitchell and Charlotte Nacotee; siblings, Jim Hill, Dennis Nacotee, Jerry Nacotee, Johnny “Gun” Gauthier, Toots Menore, and Panzy Gauthier; and great-nephew, Domanique Sanapaw.
Private family services were held.
The family of Tommy would like to extend a special thank you to the unknown kidney donor for their selfless act of donation so that he could enjoy more time with his family and friends, also to Appleton Medical Center, DiVita, and the University of Wisconsin Madison doctors and staff.
Swedberg Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family
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