Ira Dean Whitebreast Sr., 51, of Tama, passed away Sunday, September 4, 2016 at Central Iowa Healthcare in Marshalltown. Traditional Graveside Services will be held Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the Meskwaki Cemetery on the Meskwaki Settlement in rural Tama with Larry Lasley as speaker and Frank Blackcloud as head pallbearer. A Traditional Wake will be held Monday evening at the Fox Clan Ceremonial Building on the Meskwaki Settlement in rural Tama.


Ira was born on May 24, 1965, in Waterloo, Iowa the son of Janet (Youngbear) Whitebreast and Dean Whitebreast. He attended Waterloo West High School. Ira had previously worked as driver and custodian at the Meskwaki Senior Services Center. He was a huge Michigan State Spartans fan and also enjoyed Powwows and music.
Survivors include one son, Ira Dexter Whitebreast Jr. of Tama; two daughters, Lauryn Whitebreast Keahna of Tama and Destiny Whitebreast of Baraboo, WI; mother, Janet Whitebreast of Tama; father, Dean (Hattie) Whitebreast of Montour; four sisters, Deanna Westphal of Ocala, FL, Denise Ahrens of Spring Valley, MN, Dena Whitebreast of Tama, and Danette Whitebreast of Tama; two brothers, Arlan Whitebreast and Damon Whitebreast both of Tama; numerous nieces and nephews; one adopted niece, Olivia Kapayou of Tama and his best friend, John Roberts of Tama.
Preceding him in death was his paternal grandmother Helen Pritchett; maternal grandmother, Frieda Blackcloud; and a niece, Darcy Jo Whitebreast Keahna.