Miriam Louise Wanatee

Miriam Louise Wanatee

Miriam Louise Wanatee, 62, of Montour, passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown. Traditional Graveside Services will be held Friday, April 10, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at McIntosh Cemetery on the Meskwaki Settlement in rural Tama with Larry Craig Lasley Sr. as speaker. A Traditional Wake will be held Thursday evening at the home of Frank Wanatee Jr., 260 West Village Road, Montour, Iowa.

Miriam was born on April 16, 1952, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the daughter of Louis and Frances (Sanache) Mitchell.

She graduated from South Tama High School and attended the University of Iowa.

On a real snowy December 12, 1970, she married Frank D. Wanatee Jr. at the United Presbyterian of Sac & Fox with Rev. LaVern Seth officiating. They lived in California, Illinois, Alabama and Iowa. Miriam was a homemaker and loved working and cooking for the kids at the Meskwaki Settlement School. She enjoyed Powwows, camping, car shows and road trips. She also enjoyed the outdoors and beadworking. Her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her grandkids and she loved family get togethers.

Survivors include her husband Frank Wanatee Jr. of Montour; her sons, Demetreus (Karena Johnson) Wanatee of Montour, Dylan T. (Melanie) Wanatee of Montour, and Donovan Ward of Cedar Rapids and Vern Jefferson of Montour; her daughter, Tara Bear of Montour; granddaughters, Nizhoni and Minnie Wanatee; and a grandson, Mickey Elias Wanatee; one brother, Marcellus Paul Mitchell of Tama; five sisters, Joyce Wolfe of Tama, Delores Troxell of Tama, Roberta Hale of Tama, Yvette Davila of Des Moines and Ardelia Davenport of Tama; one uncle, Aaron Walker of Tama.

Preceding her in death were her parents; two sons, Micki and Ira Wanatee; two brothers; and two sisters.

Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home, Tama-Toledo is assisting the family with the arrangements.