Cornelius, Emroy Don

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 341
• Obituary: 28 Dec 2007; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Obituary:
Emroy Don Cornelius, 69, of Tecumseh, Kan., died unexpectedly of natural causes at his home on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2007. He was born on Jan. 19, 1938, on the Oneida Indian Reservation near Green Bay, WI. Don was born to his father, Emroy Cornelius, and mother, Luella Baird Cornelius, in a one-room cabin, where Don fondly called "Salt Pork Boulevard" in Oneida. He attended and graduated from Seymour High School, Seymour, WI, in 1956. He was a graduate of Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kan., after studying electricity in 1958. He was awarded the Haskell Vocational Student of the Year in 1958. Don was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union #226 in Topeka, Kan., where he was a Journeyman Wireman and retired from IBEW. He also worked and retired from Haskell Indian Nations University, where he was an electrician. He served in the Army National Guard and earned the rank of Sergeant. He served on the Executive Board of the IBEW #226. He was a past vestry member of the St. Philips Episcopal Church in Topeka. Don served on the Haskell Indian Nations Alumni Committee. Don loved to play sports, especially baseball, where he lettered in high school and at Haskell. He was a loyal Green Bay Packer fan. Papa Don was a master at making good barbeque for his friends. He married and was divorced from the mother of his children, Helen Josephine Sumner-Sedlacek, Hoyt, Kan.; she survives. Also surviving are two sons, Charles Cornelius, Lawrence, Kan., and David and wife, Barbara Cornelius, Berryton, Kan.; and a daughter, Carrie Cornelius, Red Valley, Ariz. Don has two grandchildren, Sage and Tyra Cornelius of Berryton. Don is also survived by his special longtime companion, Dorothy Ninham of De Pere, WI, and her children, Georgia Foolbull, Buddy (Linda) Powless, Gina Buenrostro (Terry Doxtator), Anthony Powless, Cheryl (Dale) Powless and Geronimo (Michelle) Powless. Survived by special stepgrandchildren, Jessica Powless, Neecie Powless and Sonny boy . Preceded in death are his parents, Emroy and Luella Cornelius; two brothers, Robert Decorah and Bernard Cornelius; and two sisters, Donna Jean Cornelius and infant, Judy Cornelius. Memorial Services will be held at the Berryton United Methodist Church, 7010 S.E. Berryton Road (3 miles south of Lake Shawnee), Berryton, Kans. 66409, at 10 a.m. Family will greet family and friends after the service