TAMA-William Wanatee Jr., 46, of Tama, passed away Saturday, March 8, 2014, at his home.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at 2:00 PM at the Native American Church in Winnebago, NE with Matthew Cleveland Jr., officiating. Interment will follow at Winnebago Cemetery in Winnebago, NE. Native American Church Services will be held on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 9:00 PM at the Native American Church in Winnebago, NE. Visitation will begin Monday evening at the church.
Pallbearers will be Myron Wanatee Jr., Capone Wanatee, Clint Free, William Williamson II, Joshua Dick, Corey Holiday, and Melvin Horn.
William was born on March 16, 1967 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of William and JoAnn (Henry) Wanatee. He was married to Amber Williamson on December 9, 2002 in Winnebago, NE. During their marriage they lived in Sioux City, IA, Chicago, IL, and Tama, IA. William worked as a beadworker. He enjoyed attending Native American Church, going to pow-wows, and playing Keno and the casino. William also enjoyed singing, traveling, playing games, and visiting friends and family. He especially liked to ride his ATV and taking his kids for rides on his ATV. Most of all William enjoyed spending time with his wife and kids.
Survivors include his wife, Amber Wanatee of Tama; children, Lysette Wanatee and Capone Wanatee both at home; stepdaughter, Jessenya Fuentes of Chicago; stepson, Mario Fuentes of Chicago; sisters, Mary Wanatee and her children of Sioux City; Mary Henry of Minneapolis, MN, and Angela Wanatee and her three daughters of Nekoosa, WI brothers, Elias Wanatee of Rockwell City, IA and Joshua Dick of Nekoosa, WI; aunt and uncle, Myron and Carmen Wanatee of Tama; adopted father, Vernon Jefferson of Tama; and the rest of the Wanatee family: aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Also surviving is William's family and friends in Winnebago, NE, his family in South Dakota, Gloria Cournoyer and the rest of the Cournoyer family and family in Oklahoma, Malainie and Dewey Butler.
Preceding him in death were his parents; William and JoAnn Wanatee Sr. and grandparents, Mike and Lyda (Wabaunasee) Wanatee and Joseph and Lydia (Bradford) Henry
The family gives a special thanks to our adopted mother, Teresa Cox.



"God's Finger touched him and he slipped away
From earth's dark shadows to a brighter day;
God saw the road was getting rough,
The hills were hard to climb;
He gently closed his eyes
And whispered, "Peace be thine."
To a beautiful garden this friend has gone,
To a land of perfect rest;
Though he is gone he still lives on
In the garden of memory."