January 8, 2020 at 4:48 p.m.
Honorable Chief Judge Eugene L. White-fish
Honorable Chief Judge Eugene L. White-fish
He is survived by his wife Justine White-fish; his sons, Josh White-fish and Shane Lammert; his daughters, Linda Lopez and Anna Lopez; his grandchildren, Dustin, Olivia, Karmen, Roxane, Waylon, Danny, Josh, and Khloe; his sisters, Ora Monegar, Marilynn Alloway, and Deanna Olson. He is also survived by his adopted family: brothers, Robert Daniels, Ned Daniels Jr., and Joseph Daniels; sisters, Lola Haskens, Michelle Daniels, and Robert VanZile; special friend, Mary Shepard. Numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Nellie Alloway & John Carl White-fish and Ned & Josie Daniels; his son, John Carl White-fish; his brothers, Herb Daniels, Steven Daniels, Matthew Daniels, and George Alloway.
He was an enrolled tribal member of the Forest County Potawatomi Community. He was very proud of his recovery from alcohol and drugs with 34 years of sobriety. He was currently the Chief Judge for the Forest County Potawatomi Tribal court.
He was elected to the position by the tribal members in June of 1994. He was the first judge elected to serve the newly established court system. He was serving his 4th consecutive term as chief judge. He continued to work even after starting treatment/dialysis for kidney failure.
He is a member of the Wisconsin Tribal Judges Association (WTJA). In 1996, he was elected by WTJA to sit on the National American Indian Court Judges Association (NAICJA) as a steering committee member for the region. In 1998, WTJA elected him to serve on the Board of Directors for Region 10. Region 10 is comprised of the tribal courts in the states of Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. He served as vice-president of WTJA for 4 years and in 2015 he was elected as its President. In 2001, he was elected to serve as president of NAICJA. He continued to serve through 2009 and in 2015, was elected as a member of the Board. Judge White-fish joined the faculty of the National Tribal Judicial Center at the National Judicial College in 2008. These are only some of the contributions he has made throughout the judicial system.
He was a member of the Midewiwin Society and practiced his Native American culture up to the day he passed.
A traditional funeral service was held on Dec. 23, 2019 in Crandon.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.weberhillfuneralhome.com
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