Bruce Lavern German Jr

Wake Service for Bruce Lavern German Jr., Cante Waste Akicita will be held Friday, August 28, 2026, starting at 7:00 pm at the Peever Community Center, Peever, SD. Final viewing will be Saturday, August 29, 2026, starting at 8:30 am. Procession will be at 9:40 am from Peever Community Center to St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Agency Village, SD for a funeral service at 10:00 am. Officiating the services will be Father Chan, Father Ciesel, Deacon Bitsey, and Father George Parmeter. Pall bearers will be Alexander Beaudreau, Jason Eastman, Jerry Eastman, Melvin Thompson, Jason LaFontaine Jr, Kevin LaFontaine Jr., Mathew Cleveland, Michael Selvage Jr, Dustin Opsal, Daniel Carlson, Lukas Barse, and Elijah Barse. Honorary pall bearers will be all Bruce's family, friends, and co-workers.

Bruce Lavern German Jr. was born on May 2, 1977, in Sisseton, South Dakota, to Bruce Lavern German Sr. and Michelle Joy LaFontaine. He grew up in Sisseton and attended Sisseton Public Schools before attending Flandreau Indian School for his senior year, where he graduated. Bruce had a lifelong love of sports. Growing up, he played baseball, softball, and basketball and participated in rodeo. He especially loved football and was one of the biggest Baltimore Ravens fans. His love of sports was something he passed on to his son Lawren. Bruce was also passionate about his culture and history and early in his teens was apart of the Drum Group "Young Nation". He lovingly made his youngest son's regalia and was preparing to enter the arena again himself. His culture, family, and the traditions he shared with his children were an important part of who he was. In September 2013, Bruce met the love of his life, Tonia Brown. They were the epitome of a loving couple, Loving each other fully, passionately, and sharing everything with one another. They were married by Dakota custom and together raised their children with the same deep love of family and passion for life. Family meant everything to Bruce, he was devoted to those he loved and did everything he could to make them happy. He shared a close relationship with his sisters, nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Bruce was also an amazing cook and the grill master of the family, bringing people together with good food and time spent with those he loved. He could light up a room with his smile, possesed a huge loving heart and freely shared his love, laughter, and joy with everyone he met. He loved deeply, lived passionately, and found his greatest happiness in his family, his culture, and those who surrounded him.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Tonia Brown; his children, Lawren German, Sydney Brown, Cedric German, Bruce German III, Dylan German, Deliah German, Ethan German, and Maximus German; 3 grandchildren; sisters, Donna German, Heidi German, Lindsey Abraham, and Katlyn Canku; paternal grandmother Lorraine German; stepfather Dean (Joleen) Abraham Jr, and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Helana German, Maternal grandparents Clifford and Doris (King) LaFontaine, paternal grandparent Gerald Smokey German, and nephew Lawren John Barse Jr.

Bruce left us with a lifetime of love and memories. We will miss him the rest of our days.