Funeral Service for Marlene Z. Ironheart, 81 of Peever, SD  will be held on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Hall, Sisseton, SD with Pastor Milton  Owen officiating. Pianists will be Billy Kohl and Mary Beth Kirk.  Casketbearers will be Caleb Ironheart, Elias Ironheart, Richie Stebbing III, Brock Stebbing, Vincent Stebbing, Anthony Rodriquez, Chandler Bartunek, Austin Medenhall, Phoenix Ironheart, and Silas Ramirez. Pallbearers will be Del Ray German, Scott German, Wayne German, John German, Sr., Gerald German Jr., Destry Heminger, Michael Heminger and Matt Houseman.  Honorary Pallbearers will be  Merle Red Bear, Russell Smith, Lorraine German, Orson Bernard, Bonnie One Road, Marlys (April) Ironheart, Florestine Kiyunkapi,  Owen Dean German, Myrna Thompson, Punchie Charging Cloud, Garry Owen, Milton and Barbara Owen, Pete Owen, Sharon Cloud, and Donna O'Riley. Interment will be in the Sisseton Cemetery, Sisseton, SD.  Wake Services will be held at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Hall on Sunday and Monday at 7:00 P.M.   The Cahill Funeral Chapel is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Marlene (German) Ironheart was born June 16, 1936 to John (Jack) & Amelia (Owen) German, in a log cabin in rural Peever, SD.  She was delivered by her Grandmother Amanda (Tiomanipi) Owen, who was a midwife at that time.

Marlene grew up and attended country school in rural Peever, and received her GED later in life.

She met the love of her life Dwight Ironheart and they were married on January 30, 1960 in Granite Falls, MN. To this union they had six children and they had forty three years together.

Marlene worked as a Community Health Representative at Indian Health Services in Sisseton, SD for over thirty years. She was an amazingly kind and generous woman, who cared for her fellow Big Coulee District members, often going above and beyond her normal duties as a CHR. Along with being a CHR, she and Dwight also raised cattle and horses on their ranch in rural Peever. Following Dwight's death in 2003, she continued to raise cattle and her family was proud of the fact that she was the oldest Native American Cattle Woman in South Dakota. She knew each of her cows and calves, often giving them names.

Marlene and Dwight enjoyed taking their family on yearly vacations to places like, Yellowstone Park, Wyoming, Glacier Park in Montana and they especially enjoyed the Annual Crow Fair, Pow-wow and Rodeo at Crow Agency, Montana. A tradition Marlene continued after Dwight's passing.

The family often enjoyed cook-outs and family gatherings and all of the holidays were spent with her at her house.

Our mother was our inspiration; she was everything we call "Home", taking care of others and working hard for what you want in this life. Family is important. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren with all that was in her. Her great grandchild Silas was the first born great grandchild and he had a special place in her heart. And her great granddaughter Hayden could always bring a smile to her face even when she wasn't feeling well. Each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren held a special place in her heart and they all loved her back beyond measure.

As her daughters we will be forever grateful to God for blessing us with such a wonderful, awesome Mom. Our hearts are broken because she can no longer be with us but we also rejoice in the fact that she went home to be with our Lord and Savior. We are certain that our Dad and brother were there to greet her and welcome her home. What a beautiful homecoming that must have been!

We love our mom and are so very proud to have had her as our mother. She was there for our first breath and we were there for her last breath.  We will love her forever and always, until we meet again. Toksta Ake.

Marlene passed away on October 5, 2017 following a battle with cancer. She is survived by her daughters: Rhoda (Luis) Rodriguez of Watertown, SD, Rita (Rick) Stebbing of Granite Falls, MN, Rosanne (Dave) Bartunek of Peever, SD, Renetta (Jonathan) Goeson of Sisseton, SD, and Sheila Mendenhall of Peever, SD. Grandchildren: Melanie Ramirez, Anthony & Angela Rodriguez, Richie, Brock & Vincent Stebbing, Ariana, Chandler & Haley Bartunek, Caleb & Elias Ironheart, Austin Mendenhall, Cheyenne & Phoenix Ironheart and eight great grandchildren. Sisters, Rosella Heminger and Alta German and brother, Owen German and sister in law Lorraine German, and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband Dwight and son Rodney Ironheart, mother Amelia and father Jack,  a brother Gerald (Smokey) German, and mother & father in law, Herbert & Bessie Ironheart.

Special thanks to the Hospice Nurses & Denise Zabala for caring for our mom.

For Marlene's obituary and on-line registry please visit www.cahillfuneralchapel.com