Diane Kay Diederich

Diane Kay Diederich (Ainslie), 83 of Woodruff, passed peacefully while surrounded by her family, on September 19, 2024, at The Classic at Hillcrest Greens in Altoona, after a long battle with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. Diane was born on May 2, 1941, in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Frederick and Betty Ainslie. She spent much of her childhood and young adult life in several states until finally winding up in suburban Chicago. She went to Marquette University where she received her degree in sociology and met the love of her life — her Bob. She was united in marriage to Robert Diederich on September 5, 1964, in Arlington Heights, Ill., and raised three daughters, Jill, Amy, and Tracy, in Elmwood Park and Elk Grove Village, Ill. and then on to Brookfield, and finally Pewaukee. When her three daughters were in high school, Diane went back to school to pursue a master’s degree in theological studies at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee. Her pioneering spirit led her to join a class of all women at the seminary with the goal of extending the role of women in the Catholic Church. After graduation, she served for 10 years as a pastoral associate at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in Brookfield, until her retirement in the spring of 2000. Diane and Bob built their dream home on Pike Lake in Park Falls, and moved there in July of 2000 where they found many new friends at St. Matthias Episcopal Church and the surrounding Minocqua community.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Robert Diederich; children, Jill (Mark) Dunne; Amy (Jacob) Schoeder, and Tracy (Steven) Santelman; grandchildren, Rachel (Rachal) Dunne, Nathan Schoeder, Allison Dunne, Benjamin Schoeder, Nora Santelman, Trygve Santelman, and Gunnar Santelman; brothers, Michael (Kathryn) Ainslie and Thomas Ainslie; brother-in-law, Gerald Diederich, as well as countless nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Frederick and Betty Ainslie and sisters-in-law, Virginia Diederich and Florence Ainslie.

A celebration of life for Diane will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, at St. Matthias Episcopal Church, 403 E Chicago Ave, Minocqua, WI 54548 at noon. Family will greet relatives and friends from 11 a.m. until the start of service. A luncheon will be served by friends of St. Matthias.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association or St. Matthias Episcopal church.

Profound thanks to the loving staff at The Classics at Hillcrest Greens and St. Croix Hospice who cared for and loved our Diane.

Chippewa Valley Cremation Services — Celebration of Life Center in Altoona is serving the family. To offer online condolences, please visit www.chippewavalleycremation.com.