John (Wong Tong) Patrick Nanamkin

John (Wong Tong) Patrick Nanamkin went home to join the Creator unexpectedly Sunday, August 9, 2015. He was born November 25, 1956, to Joseph Harvey (Tou) Nanamkin Sr. and Danita Margaret (McJoe) Nanamkin at Chehalis, Washington.

John was a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. He worked at many jobs, including Pascal Sherman Indian School as a Dorm Counselor. He loved landscaping and coaching basketball for Yakima Bulls.

Some of the things he most enjoyed were stick games, powwows, picking huckleberries, and events that included our youth. He loved to dance "John Travolta Disco Style," shoot pool with many of his friends and family, and enjoy lots of laughs, smiling, and joking, and everyone's company.

John is survived by sisters: Diane (Simon) Sampson, Cynthia (Ferlin) Ray, and Danita (Tim Helm) Nanamkin; brother, Greg Nanamkin; God-daughter, Shawnee Bearcub; and numerous nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, too many to list. He enjoyed spending time with each and every one of you!!!

John is preceded in death by his parents: Joseph and Danita; sisters: Joanne Whitaker, Debi Smalleyes, and Denise Nanamkin Soria; brothers: Lance Nanamkin Sr. and Joseph Harvey Nanamkin Jr.

Dressing services will be at Merrit Funeral Service, 218 W. Third St, Yakima, Washington at 1 p.m., Wednesday, August 12 (today). Following the dressing, John will be taken to Nespelem Community Center for overnight services. At sunrise on Thursday, August 13, John will be laid to rest at Lil Nespelem Cemetery.