MARLENE ADRIAN HOPINKAH, “WANĮK NĄĄ HAJIJEĮGA”- ‘BIRD THAT LANDS ON A LIMB’

MARLENE ADRIAN HOPINKAH, “WANĮK NĄĄ HAJIJEĮGA”- ‘BIRD THAT LANDS ON A LIMB’

     Marlene Adrian Hopinkah, “Wanįk Nąą Hajijeįga”- ‘Bird that lands on a limb,’ 72, of Black River Falls, WI, passed away peacefully Oct. 23, 2024, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, WI.

     Marlene was born April 1, 1952, to Benjamin Hopinkah and Lorraine Decorah. She grew up on her parent’s homestead by Hatfield, WI, and later moved to Merrillan, WI. She graduated from Lincoln High School in Alma Center. After high school, she attended the University of River Falls and continued her studies at Rochester Community College of Rochester, MN. She also worked at the Mayo Clinic of Rochester in medical records. When her parents passed away, she came home to care for her siblings. Later, she worked for the Black River Falls Middle School as a teacher’s aide.

     She enjoyed her family, cooking, watching her shows, doing puzzles, going to Wal-Mart, cruising around and trying her luck at Bingo and the Casino. She will be remembered and missed by everyone without her stand at the pow-wow with her famous frybread. Above all, Marlene’s favorite thing to be was the best gaga to her grandchildren and mom to her kids. 

     She got sober soon after her first grandchild and dedicated her life to her family. Her family is forever grateful for all lessons she taught them - love, time, sacrifices, faith and strength. 

     Marlene is survived by her children, Sara Dobbs and Nick Whitegull; grandchildren Lucas Stacy, Kaimery Hopinkah, Isabella Stacy and Jasmine Stacy; great-grandchildren Giovani Rivas, Isaiah Root and George Root; siblings Charles (Janelle) Hopinkah and Loretta (Steve) Hopinkah; nieces and nephews Nehomah Thundercloud, Eric Hopinkah, Scott Lowe, Scott Hopinkah, Lynette Hopinkah, Lindsey Whitegull, Nolan Whitegull, Ian Whitegull, Ryan Decorah, Joleen Decorah, Destin Hopinkah, Benjamin Hopinkah, Charles Hopinkah, Ty Rae Hopinkah, Dylan Sohm, Ethan Sohm, Priscilla Sohm, Candace Ringham, Alexis Thundercloud, Shana Walker and Paul Krause.

     She is preceded in death by her parents; daughter Amanda Joy Whitegull; siblings Jeanette Hopinkah, Cheryl Hopinkah, Harriet “Kitty” Hopinkah, Lori Rieder, Judith Ann Thundercloud and Ben Hopinkah; niece Arielle Whitegull; nephew Donovan Sohm; and grandson Jackson Hopinkah.