Obituary of Lonnie Wayne Herschel

Lonnie Wayne Herschel, age 75, passed away on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Ardmore, Okla. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Friday, March 18, 2022, in The Chapel at Griffin ~ Hillcrest Funeral Home with The Reverend Roger Scott officiating. Interment to follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park, Ardmore, Okla. Lonnie was born on October 28, 1946, in Frazer, Montana, to John Bearcub Herschel and Elizabeth Jackson Herschel. When he was three years old his mother married Gilbert Horn, Sr. and they moved to Belknap, Montana, where he grew up. In his youth, he loved to go horseback riding on his favorite horse, Dynamite. He moved to Dallas, Texas, where he attended technical training school in welding and worked for a time. Lonnie married Shirley Johnson in Dallas, Texas, on July 25, 1969. And from this union, came Jay Herschel. Lonnie was drafted into the US Army in June of 1970. Achieving the rank of Private First Class, he received the National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Air Medal Vietnam Cross, and the Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star of Gallantry. He received his honorable discharge on Jan 20, 1972. He went to work as a welder in Dallas, Texas, and then in Grand Prairie, Texas. In 1982, his marriage to Shirley ended and he moved back to Montana to be close to his family. In 1990, he returned to Dallas. He began working at Custom Conveyer in Marietta, Okla., and moved to Ardmore, Okla. Lonnie married Linda White on November 12, 1997, at Ardmore. He retired from the welding industry in 2007. Proud of his Native American Heritage, Lonnie was a member of the Fort Peck Tribes, the Assiniboine and the Sioux. He was named “Wachu Wiska Zuye Iyayes”, which translates as “The Grizzly Bear Goes to War.” Anytime he could, Lonnie would attend Gourd Dancing and Pow-wows. He enjoyed repairing small engines and he loved to hunt and fish. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Bearcub Herschel, Elizabeth Jackson Horn, and Gilbert Horn, Sr., Sister, Myrna Spotted Bear, and brother, John Bearcub. Wayne is survived by his wife, Linda Herschel, of the home, son, Jay Herschel, children Chris Anastasio and wife, Julie, and Jeff Anastasio, and daughter, Robin Garrison. Three grandchildren: Nicholas, Kevin, and Kelsie, and one greatgrandchild, Karli Anastasio. Wayne was survived by his brothers: Gilbert “Buddie” Horn, Jr., and wife, Nedra, Donald “Duck” Horn, Kermit Horn, Curtis Horn, and wife, Ramona, Walter Horn and wife, Lisa, Charles Horn. Sisters: Willowa “Sis” Horn, and Margaret Horn-Sampson and husband, Dave. Numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. Visitation will be held on Thursday, evening from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, March 17, 2022, at Griffin~Hillcrest of Ardmore.