Anthony Gourneau
Funeral services will be 1:00 pm Saturday, August 8, 2020 at Diamond Willow Ministries in Fort Thompson with burial in the Lakeview Cemetery at Fort Thompson. Wake services will be Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evening at 7:00 pm at Diamond Willow Ministries in Fort Thompson.
Anthony Heath Gourneau was born on June 15Th, 1997 to Heath and Anna (Hopkins) Gourneau.
Anthony began his journey to the Spirit World on August 2nd, 2020.
Anthony was raised on the Crow Creek Reservation all his life. He couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. He loved the land and the river and the wide open space where he felt his spirit was free.
Anthony attended elementary, middle, and most of his high school years in Chamberlain, SD. He made many friends throughout his school years and loved football more than anything, receiving the All Nations All Conference Award in 2015. He enjoyed track & field, Anthony was a Member of So. Dak. High School Rodeo Assoc- SDRA and INFR . He was a bareback rider for four years. In his last year he went to the National High School finals rodeo in Rock Springs, WY and was a South Dakota Qualifier for trap shoot. Anthony placed 24 out of 130 finalist from 47 states and 3 countries. Anthony kicked ass down there. We were so proud.
Anthony was so full of ambitions starting at a very young age. His dad was his hero and always wanted to learn all he could from him. They lead to passions that became a part of his life. He lived so high spirited there was not enough time in each day to do the things he enjoyed. He worked the summers at Thiel’s Collision Center and wanted to be there to help during weekends and breaks while he was in college.
In 2017, Anthony attended Lake Area Vo-Tech at Watertown, SD. for 2 years, receiving his diploma in Automotive Technology. Right after his graduation, Anthony was hired at Willrodt Ford in Chamberlain, SD. His boss was Frank Willrodt thought Anthony was a very talented young man. Anthony was dedicated to his job and was always the first one out the door every morning and the last one home every evening, As His love for the gym always came right after he clocked out from work and boasting that he was an amateur body builder and always flexing his muscles. Anthony was a big inspiration to a lot of people.
More than anything Anthony loved being with his family. He was always reminiscing with his big sister Destiny with lots of laughter and tedious argument. It was a special bond that only they shared that could not be broken, even after accidentally running his sister over with a 4 wheeler. Anthony spent most of his time with his little brothers Andy and Jed. He was always teaching them to hunt, fish, and shoot guns. He was always helping his little bros fill their buck tags first, then his. Most of all, it was his brother Andy who was always right by Anthony’s side. They did everything together and were inseparable. Andy had to learn quick as he is 3 years younger than Anthony, but grew to be bigger than him though. They loved guns and shooting. They were always target shooting and was always up for a good challenge. Lately they were in the kitchen with their mom, teaching her about smoking foods anything and everything they could, mostly meats and they always turned out awesome.
Anthony and his brother Andy recently gained a passion for Harley Davidson motorcycles and have been riding together a lot lately on their HD motorcycles. They had plans of riding to Sturgis with their friend Kyle Campbell this Friday August 14, 2020. Staying the weekend, riding and hanging with their older cousin Tucker Gourneau while out in Sturgis. Anthony always made time for his nephew Noah and loved his new niece Serenity. We always knew that with each other we could accomplish anything.
Grateful for having shared his life are his parents Heath and Anna Gourneau; his sister Destiny Gourneau (Chris Anderson) and nephew Noah and niece Serenity of Ft. Thompson; his brothers Leander (Andy) Gourneau and Jedediah Gourneau of Ft. Thompson; his Lower Brule Gourneau Family; and all of his many many family, relatives and friends.
Preceding him in death are his Grandma Lorraine M. Gourneau; Great Grandma Ruby Blaine; his Grandpa’s Steve Gourneau and Vilas Hopkins, Sr.; his Uncle Vilas Hopkins Jr.; and his big brother Adrian Gourneau. Although there are many more, these are the ones he knew.