Robert Alan Chicks, 65, of Harbor Springs, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Bob was born Aug. 1, 1954, in Shawano to Sarah Wanda (nee Miller) and Clarence Alfred Chicks. His grandparents were Aubyn and Tressie Miller and Alice (nee Davids) and Harry Chicks.
Bob was an enrolled member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians. He was raised in Red Springs until he was 5 years old, when his mother passed away and his father moved the children to Milwaukee. He spent every weekend, holidays and summer in Red Springs.
He graduated from Franklin High School in Franklin, Wisconsin, in 1972. He attended Milwaukee Area Technical College and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he was active with the Native American student’s groups.
He moved back to Red Springs in the early 1990s. He started working with his tribe as tribal planner. He served as the tribal president from 1997 to 2013 with a break for one term. He also served on the tribal council. He provided leadership in an important period of tribal development including construction of the health and wellness center, the casino and hotel, Pine Hills, Little Star and Mohican LP Gas Company.
Bob loved his tribe and worked tirelessly on behalf of the Mohican people. He held many positions of leadership on statewide and national Indian organizations, including president of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Minneapolis area vice president of the National Congress of American Indians and the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes. Of all the titles he had, he was most proud of being an enrolled member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians.
Bob met his future wife, Rose Pyant, while they were both in Washington, D.C. Rose is a member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. They later married in October 1998. They lived in Red Springs until 2014, when they moved to Michigan. In Michigan, they resided in multiple locations. They finally built their dream home on the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians Reservation.
Bob worked at the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Education Department.
Bob is survived by his wife, Rose, who will love him forever. He is also survived by his brother, Terry Chicks; sister, Susan Chicks-Wojciechowski (Marc); nephew, Nathan (Jamie) Wojciechowski; many great-nephews and great-nieces; many loving cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father and sister, Margie.
Memorial service will be held Sunday, Feb. 2, at noon at the Orion Event Center in the North Star Mohican Casino Resort. Friends can call on the family at the center starting at 10 a.m. until the service. Everyone is welcome. Many families, one nation.
Robert Chicks
