Jonathon Wayne Earth Sr., a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, died unexpectedly April 4. He was 50.

Earth was instrumental in the Native American Church on the Winnebago Reservation. He served as president of the Winnebago chapter for 10 years and raised funds for a new church building.

Earth served on the tribal council for six years. He also worked for the Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, where he was most recently the director of the wildlife and parks program.

Funeral services were held last week. Earth is survived by his wife and several children.