TAMA ­ Marva Lisa Roberts, age 43, of the Meskwaki Settlement, rural Tama died on Sunday, January 14, 2007, at Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center due to a sudden illness. Traditional Graveside Services will be held on Thursday, January 18, 2007, at 2:00 PM at the Meskwaki Cemetery with Michael Keahna as speaker. A traditional wake will be held Wednesday evening at the Native American Drum Society Ceremonial Grounds on the Meskwaki Settlement, rural Tama. Kruse-Phillips Funeral Homes, Tama-Toledo is in charge of the arrangements.
Marva was born on April 15, 1963 in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Wanatee)Roberts. She attended South Tama Schools and Riverside Indian School. Marva enjoyed being with her family, especially the children. She especially loved being a grandma to Sarayna.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Norma Jean Roberts, her paternal grandparents, John and Nina (Youngbear) Roberts, maternal grandparents, Frank and Adeline (Morgan) Wanatee and a niece Nora Moreno.
Survivors include her parents, Isaac and Elizabeth Roberts of Tama; her children, Derrick Mauskemo of Tama, Delilah Mauskemo of Marshalltown, and Alexah Mauskemo of Tama; a granddaughter, Sarayna Papakee of Marshalltown; six sisters and five brothers, Andrianne (Steve) Gomez of Tama, Troy (Sandy) Roberts of Tama, Henrietta (Harlan) Brown of Tama, Mona Roberts of Cedar Rapids, Marian Roberts of Tama, John (Missy) Roberts of Tama, Keshena Roberts of Tama; Linda Morgan of Tama, Leland Morgan of Tama, Keith Mitchell of Des Moines, and Malcolm Mitchell of Tama; longtime companion Brian Johnson of Tama; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.