Dakota Bear Whitlatch
April 5, 2002 — May 11, 2023
Dakota Bear Whitlatch was born April 5, 2002 in Iowa City, Iowa the son of Barry and Denise (Durst) Whitlatch.
Dakota was born with hypoplastic heart syndrome. Despite his health condition, Dakota lived life to the fullest. He attended Knoxville schools, graduating with the Class of 2021. He was a huge fan of NASCAR and dirt track racing. In 2009, Dakota went to Daytona through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Since 2017 he has gone to Charlotte every year for a race. Dakota was able to meet hundreds of drivers over the years who became friends and supporters of “Team Dakota”. Dakota and his parents used Team Dakota to raise awareness about congenital heart defects. Dakota was also friends with Chuck Norris. He was honored as “Kid Captain” for Central College and the Kansas Jayhawks.
In addition to racing, Dakota enjoyed finding new recipes for his mom and grandma to make. He was also a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Dakota had an extremely strong faith and prayed for anyone in need before himself. He could sense other people’s pain and suffering and would offer to pray with strangers and instantly make another friend. He literally touched thousands of lives through his inspiration, love and fun-loving spirit. His motto was “God’s Got This”.
Dakota passed away Thursday, May 11, 2023 at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics at the age of 21 years.
Those left to cherish Dakota’s memory include his parents, Denise and Barry of Harvey; grandparents, James and Dixie Durst; cat, Speedy; half-brother, Bryce Whitlatch; uncles: Dennis (Becky) Durst and Darrell (Jeanie) Whitlatch; aunt, Fonda “Steve” Gross; many cousins, aunts, uncles and other family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to be designated at a later date.
The family requests that attendees wear racing, favorite sports teams or Team Dakota shirts.
GUESTS PLEASE USE THE MAIN HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE (south) OR THE KPAC ENTRANCE
Dakota was born with hypoplastic heart syndrome. Despite his health condition, Dakota lived life to the fullest. He attended Knoxville schools, graduating with the Class of 2021. He was a huge fan of NASCAR and dirt track racing. In 2009, Dakota went to Daytona through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Since 2017 he has gone to Charlotte every year for a race. Dakota was able to meet hundreds of drivers over the years who became friends and supporters of “Team Dakota”. Dakota and his parents used Team Dakota to raise awareness about congenital heart defects. Dakota was also friends with Chuck Norris. He was honored as “Kid Captain” for Central College and the Kansas Jayhawks.
In addition to racing, Dakota enjoyed finding new recipes for his mom and grandma to make. He was also a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Dakota had an extremely strong faith and prayed for anyone in need before himself. He could sense other people’s pain and suffering and would offer to pray with strangers and instantly make another friend. He literally touched thousands of lives through his inspiration, love and fun-loving spirit. His motto was “God’s Got This”.
Dakota passed away Thursday, May 11, 2023 at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics at the age of 21 years.
Those left to cherish Dakota’s memory include his parents, Denise and Barry of Harvey; grandparents, James and Dixie Durst; cat, Speedy; half-brother, Bryce Whitlatch; uncles: Dennis (Becky) Durst and Darrell (Jeanie) Whitlatch; aunt, Fonda “Steve” Gross; many cousins, aunts, uncles and other family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to be designated at a later date.
The family requests that attendees wear racing, favorite sports teams or Team Dakota shirts.
GUESTS PLEASE USE THE MAIN HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE (south) OR THE KPAC ENTRANCE
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dakota Bear Whitlatch, please visit our flower store.