Diane Cole Duesenberg

Diane was born on August 8, 1934, to Russel and Hazel (née Beadle) Cole in Carrollton, Ohio. Diane was married to the late Eldon Duesenberg for 38 years until Eldon’s death in 2022. They were wed at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa in July 1984.

Diane is survived by her children Ann (Paul) Baransy (née Shepherd), Jeani (Max) Good (née Shepherd), Nola (Jim) Quealy (née Shepherd), and William (Kimberly) Shepherd. She is also survived by her stepchildren Steve (Renee) Duesenberg, Tami (Jim) Staver and Derric (Jaime) Duesenberg and their families.

Her grandchildren are Kyle Good, Evan Good, Emily Hinsey (née Baransy); Natalie (Corey) Stewart (née Baransy), Jake Shepherd, Lillian Shreve (née Shepherd) and Evelyn Shepherd. She has one great grandchild: Nora Stewart.

Diane is also survived by her sisters Penny Messenger and Vicki (Bill) Bailey and brothers Tim Cole and Kim Cole. Preceding her in death were her parents, sister Cathy (Marvin) King, and brother Ronald (Donna) Cole.

Diane is also survived by her nephews and nieces Greg, Eric, Jennifer, Ramona, Karin, Mark, Joanna, and Shawn.

Though Diane lived in Iowa since 1976 she never forgot her Ohio family and loved to hear from them. Eldon faithfully drove her back to Ohio for visits through the years. She was interested in nutrition and loved to cook. Diane was born with a natural curiosity about the world and was interested in politics and psychology especially. She was a lifelong fitness participant and exercised with Paige Palmer on WEWS Cleveland TV in the 60s and Morning Stretch more recently. She taught her children hospitality and neighborliness by her example.

Diane was a member of Orchard Hill Reformed Church. She was a member of the Cedar Falls American Legion and was an officer and active volunteer of the Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Cedar Falls Women’s Club and was active in the Cedar Valley United Nations Association. Diane worked as a retail assistant at Woolco and as an in-home caregiver and homemaker.

Her family deeply appreciates the love shown to Diane by Jo Dorhout.

Diane will be interred with Eldon in Stronghurst, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Orchard Hill Reformed Church, 3900 Orchard Drive, Cedar Falls, IA 50613.