Diane S. Wilson

Diane S. Wilson, age 72, of Marengo, passed away Sunday, October 29, 2023, at Compass Memorial Healthcare, Marengo, after a very courageous six year battle of pancreatic cancer. Funeral service: 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 3, 2023, at the First Presbyterian Church, Marengo, with Rev. Diane Vorhies officiating. Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, November 2, 2023, at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo. Interment will be in the Marengo Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be contributed to the Hope Foundation at Compass Memorial Healthcare, Marengo or the Iowa County Fair.

Diane is survived by her husband of 51 years, Tom; a daughter Ashley (Jordan) Meek, of Williamsburg; two grandchildren, Avery and Jacob Meek; a sister Dixie (Doug) Rinderknecht, of Newhall; three nieces, Alison (Scott) Foughty, of Polk City; Johnette (Craig) Irving, of WA, and Melisa (Joe) Venneman, of Blairstown; a nephew Nick Rinderknecht, of Keystone; and several great-nieces and nephews . She was preceded in death by her parents.

Diane Sue Junge was born May 15, 1951, in Belle Plaine, the daughter of Corley and Hazel (Peterson) Junge. She was raised on century farm helping with the chores and drove the tractor while making bales of hay. As a child, Diane loved riding her bike and riding and raising Shetland and Welsh ponies. She bottle fed orphan lambs and loved their dog Queenie and two pups. Diane graduated from Benton Community High School in May of 1969. Following graduation, she was employed at Collin’s Radio, in Cedar Rapids. She was united in marriage to Thomas Wilson on August 26, 1972 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, in Keystone. The couple made their home southwest of Marengo.

Diane worked at the local bank, now Grinnell State Bank, for 47 years. Learning from her dad how to bowl at a young age, Diane was a member of the bowling team, Katz Salvage at Lucky 6 Lanes, for 13 yrs. She enjoyed being a 4-H leader for 18 years, putting in countless hours of community service projects. She loved all of the members of the Fairview Zippers she became acquainted with. Diane retired and received the 4-H Hall of Fame award in 2017. She was active on county boards including the Referendum Committee and Extension Council Nominating Committee. Attending flea markets was another joy of Diane’s, along with hunting Pie Birds, going to Pie Bird conventions and going to Cedar Falls with Tom and watching the races. We can’t forget loving that country music. Diane was given four to nine months to live after being diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March of 2017. She exceeded it by six and a half years, and often accredits the oncology team at Compass Memorial Healthcare, for helping make that possible. She released all of her medical information to the UIHC research team, to help find a cure for others.

Diane had a great passion for “making the best better” and working with the youth in Iowa County, wanting them to grow, learn, and achieve their dreams. Diane loved her many friends, neighbors and greatly missed the customers at Grinnell State Bank. She especially loved her family, spending time with them and following the grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staff at Compass Memorial Healthcare and Essence of Life Hospice for the exceptional care Diane received while in her final days.