Robert “Bob” Taypayosatum, Wamni Gawinǧe (Circling Eagle), 65, of Poplar died Thursday Aug. 28, 2025.
He was born in Tisdale, Sask., Canada, on Oct. 11, 1959, to Marcia Ann Taypayosatum and John Napootican and was raised by Sterling and Edna Brass. He was a member of the Yellow Quill First Nation.
He spent his early life in Canada until 1990 when he and his brother Herbie decided to move to the United States. Though his brother returned home to Canada, he stayed. When he first came here, he earned money by breaking horses and moving cattle. To this day, there are roping horses around that he broke many years ago. He began studying and practicing two types of martial arts in 1993 and, by 1995, he received his brown belt He settled down for some time in Frazer, doing odd jobs and taking care of his youngest daughter, Sunnie Marie. He had three daughters, Marcia, Bobbie Jo and Savannah; and two sons, Greg and Chad. He always kept up with them and their lives, even if he was doing so from a distance.
He enjoyed singing and was in a few drum groups with Brad Gray Hawk. This friendship grew into a brotherhood and he moved in with Brad and Maureen in 19992001. He sang with many drums, like Lone Eagle Cree, Elks Whistle, Fort Kipp and Lohmiller and enjoyed going to powwows.
He worked at A& S, but later worked at Colgan Ranch with Doug Colgan, moving cattle, branding and breaking horses.
He met Diane Lee Granbois in 2001 and they married on Dec. 16, 2001, officially becoming “Dad” to her five daughters. He raised them as cowgirls and taught them that “cowgirls don’t cry” and to jump back on the saddle whenever they got knocked down. They spent 18 years together before her death in 2019.
He had many different names: Robert, Bobby, Cowboy Bob, Chick, Slim and Dad, but his all-time favorite name to be called was Papa. He became Papa in 2005 and filled the role perfectly. There is nothing he was prouder of than being “Papa” to all his grandchildren.
“Cowboy Bob” had a deep love for horses. Every summer, he hit the rodeo trail as part of the 4 Bear Bucking Horse Crew, traveling all over to buck broncs. He also worked for Spotted Bull Recovery Resource Center activities as a livestock handler and event helper, which meant he spent most his weekends helping with rodeo school or horsemanship clinics.
Aside from his passion for bucking, branding, working, doctoring and breaking horses, he loved to saddle up and hit the dusty ol’ trail for the day. A few of his other hobbies were woodcarving and leatherwork. His specialty was walking sticks that he gifted to people or belts for his grandchildren’s regalia. He liked to show off his pool skills and enjoyed fishing. He loved staying home with his grandbabies, watching his favorite TV shows, gambling on his phone, backroad cruising while listening to country music and video chatting with his family in Canada.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Diane Taypayosatum; brothers Rick, George, Herbie, John Wayne, Ron, Gerald MoneyBird, Mervin Brass, Kevin “Taco” Cappo and Fred Lumberjack; sisters, Mae and Loretta; and granddaughter, Angel Diane Granbois.
He is survived by brothers, Gordie Favel and Francis Sherwood; sister, Irene Westernman; children, Marcia Taypayosatum, Gregory Kaisowatum, Chad Pasap, Bobbie-Jo Eashappie, Savannah Marie Taypayosatum, Mandy, Jessica and Danielle Granbois, Mikaela Falls Down and Jada Grant; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Sept. 8, at 10 a.m. all at the Poplar Cultural Center. Interment followed at Poplar City Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with arrangements.
