Jerry M. Hill

Jerry Michael Hill, Oneida Nation, WI, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, June 29, 2010. Born on August 30, 1938 in Oneida Nation, WI to Dennison and Sadie (Powless) Hill. On October 31, 1959 he married the former Mary F. Quoetone of Meers, OK. Jerry was a proud alumni of Haskell Indian Nation University, University of Southern Mississippi, and the University of Arizona. He dedicated his life to native people, Indian communities and to the protection of tribal sovereignty by working in Indian education and economic development for many tribal nations. He was the first special education director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and traveled across Indian country to help establish programs. He was partner in several businesses including Yellowhammer, Resource Management International, Native First Capital Markets Group, and Palace Development Group. He served the Oneida Community in many different capacities in his life, including Land Claims Coordinator, Oneida Health Center Director, Economic Development Director, but his proudest accomplishment was to develop the Oneida Tribal School and its culturally based curriculum and to serve as the first Principal. He was a proud member of the Kiowa Gourd Clan since 1960. He also was a life long Packer fan. Jerry is survived by his wife of 50 years Mary F. Hill; children: Julie M. (partner Stephen King)Hill, Jennifer D. (Lance) Kelley, Jamison D. (Lisa) Hill, and Lance G. (Sally) Hill; grandchildren: Dennison "Cory" Thomas Maggard, Ayla Dachelle Calabrese, Sadie Yewelaha Kelley, Bianca, Lexi, and Jackson Hill, Timothy Hart, Michael "Zeke" and Amos William Hill; and in September 2010 his first great granddaughter Mila Abigail Calabrese. He is further survived by his sisters Blanche (Edmund) Powless and Vivian Williams; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, sisters and brothers-in-law, and many friends. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings: Sylvester (Irene) Hill, Charels (Sylvia) Hill, Ervin (Hazel) Hill, Lorraine (Commodore) Metoxen, Louis Hill, and Catherine Hill; his brother-in-law Chester Williams. Visitation for Jerry will be Friday, July 2, 2010 at Holy Apostle Episcopal Church, Freedom Rd, Oneida from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Oneida Hymn Singers at 6:30 PM followed by a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue on Saturday, July 3, 2010 at Holy Apostle Episcopal Church, Oneida from 9:30 AM until time of Mass. A Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM with Rev. Kristina Henning officiating and Deacon Edmund Powless and Deacon Deborah Heckel assisting. Burial to follow in church cemetery. RYAN FUNERAL HOME, De Pere is assisting the family. Please visit www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the Hill family. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to benefit the preservation of Oneida language, history, and culture through supporting ongoing efforts to keep the Oneida way of thinking alive. Memorials may be sent to Bay Bank, C/O the Jerry M. Hill Fund, 2555 Packerland Dr, Green Bay, WI 54313.