Funeral Service for Cornelius S. Kirk Jr., 43, of Rice Lake, WI, formerly of Sisseton, SD will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. at the Lake Traverse District Center (South Dakota side of Lake Traverse) with Jr. Heminger officiating. Drum group will be Dakota Nation & All Singers. Pallbearers will be Lester Merrill, Bill Merrill, Tyler Merrill, Vijay Crawford-Kirk, Aydan Kirk, Justin Kirk, Roger Redday Jr. Darwin Bernard, Edward St. John, Marcell DuMarce, Vern Red Owl, Londell Seaboy, Theo Bobtail-Bear. Honorary Pallbearers will be "all family and friends, and all singers across Indian Country. Interment will be at St. Matthew's Cemetery in Veblen, SD. Wake Service will be held at the Traverse Lake District Center Tuesday and Wednesday, August 25, and 26 starting at 7:00 P.M. The Cahill Funeral Chapel in Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.

Cornelius Salvadore Kirk Jr. ( Wambdi Hosksina~ Eagle Boy) was born on October 14, 1973 in Sisseton, South Dakota. His parents are Cornelius Salvadore Kirk Sr. and Arlene Spider.

Cornelius was baptized at the Lake Traverse Presbyterian Church.

Cornelius was raised down by the lake and later moved to Twin Buttes, ND, with his paternal grandmother Ida Roy-Little Owl and siblings Fidel and Vanessa.

He started his education in Twin Buttes, ND, then on to Halliday, ND, and finished at Sisseton High School where he earned his GED. He went on to attend college at Sisseton Wahpeton Community College, where he earned his certificate for carpentry.

At an early age he started singing with his grandpa Ralph Little Owl and brother Fidel. Their first drum group was Twin Buttes Singers. Later Cornelius and his brother Fidel got the drum group Dakota Nations started, they were well known in the Pow Wow circuit for their song composing and singing. Dakota Nation took many championships across Indian country. Cornelius was also a traditional dancer; he enjoyed dancing and performing across Indian Country.

Cornelius was a blackjack dealer at many casinos in Wisconsin. He was the Drum Keeper for Buffalo Lake Sundance and a Sundancer. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, and making drums. He also had a loving, supportive relationship with his nieces and nephews.

He was a proud father to 5 children, Dillion, DeShawn, Sienna, Adriel and Calvin, he loved spending time with them and encouraging them and loving and caring for them.

He leaves to mourn: his Mother, Arlene Spider, his children, Dillon, DeShawn, Sienna, Adriel, and Calvin, his siblings, Denise Fuentes, Patty LaCroix, Craig Nelson, Lisa Nelson, Vanessa Kirk, Reba Kirk, Ira Kirk, Charlene Kirk and Cornell Kirk.

He was proceeded in death by his paternal grandparents Ralph and Ida Little Owl and Percy Kirk Sr., maternal grandparents, Sampson and Martha Spider, siblings, Brian Nelson, Mary Nelson, Fidel Kirk, Leonard Kirk, Ursula Kirk,Howard Iron Leggings, Charles Kirk, and two nephews', Morley Kirk and Uriah Redday.