Dianne Brode

Dianne was born on May 12, 1947 in Akron, Ohio, to Donna and Calvin Shank. She was the oldest of three children and is survived by her siblings, Sheila Burton and Ronnie Shank. A 1965 graduate of Kenmore High School, Dianne earned straight A’s and a long list of extracurricular activities including editor of the school newspaper, cheerleader, and serving as a member of the student council, homecoming court, yearbook staff, and choir.

In the spring of her junior year in high school, Dianne accepted a date with her future husband and “the luckiest guy in the world”, Bobby Brode. They married a year later in 1965. During her freshman English final at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Dianne went into labor. Not about to jeopardize her stellar GPA, she finished her final exam before going to the hospital. Donald Robert Brode (Donnie) was born the next day on Easter Sunday.

In 1966, the young family moved to Arlington, Texas. Three years later, Bobby and Di welcomed their second child, Lauren Michelle Brode (Irons). In 1972, this mother of two young children, earned a Bachelor’s in English with a minor in French from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Di and Bobby moved to Coral Springs, Florida, in 1973. The inadequate gifted education options available for her son at that time ignited her next academic pursuit. In 1978, Dianne earned a Master’s in Gifted Education from the University of South Florida. She created and developed a gifted education program at Ramblewood Middle School. Over the years, alumni from that program including her own son, have expressed gratitude for the innovative educational opportunity and foundation she provided.

In 1980, Dianne and Bobby settled in Austin, Texas and have proudly called it home ever since. Dianne’s career in gifted education came to a halt and Bobby became increasingly unhappy with his employment situation so Dianne once again looked to education to enable opportunity for family growth. With very little time to prepare, Dianne took the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Months later, at the age of 35 and a mother of 13 and 16 year old teenagers, she enrolled in the University of Texas Law School. After earning her Juris Doctor degree in 1985, Dianne became one of only three female attorneys at Shapiro, Edens and Cook law firm.

In 1987, Dianne’s new career created the opportunity for Di and Bobby to initiate the path towards what would become their legacy joint venture, Techline, Inc.. All the while, Dianne successfully juggled the pressures of being a new attorney, consistently showed up for Donnie and Lauren’s soccer games, and ran the Brode household. Since then, Di and Bobby together have grown the Techline, Inc. family from 3 employees to over 250 with an exceptional management team of 30+ years carrying on the same culture that was established from the beginning.

Above all else, what Dianne cherished most was her family. She loved her son-in-law, Craig Irons, and her daughter-in-law, Susan Terrell, like they were her own children. Dianne’s love and pride for her five grandchildren (Will, Caroline, and Jackson Irons; Lily and George Brode) ran long and deep. Affectionately known as “Bebe”, she was always the first choice teammate for family games, especially charades and trivia. She was wicked smart, observant, fun, and always trying to keep Bobby in line.

Dianne and Bobby have been loyal fans of UT Basketball for more than twenty years and particularly enjoyed their friends in the Courtside Club. In addition to cheering on the Longhorns and spending time with family, Dianne loved her neighbors and best friends of 40+ years (Don and Jane), scuba diving and sunsets in the Cayman Islands, a gripping book, Brandi Carlile, Willie Nelson, a good martini, and her Cavalier King Charles, Sherlock. But most of all, and more than anything in this world, she loved her best friend and soulmate, Bobby Brode.

Our family is grateful for Dr. Lynn Knowles, Elizabeth, Liz and the entire staff at Texas Oncology as well as the team of caregivers from ComForCare, especially Lori, Lorena, Elma, Heidie, and Felicia.

A service for Dianne will be held on Saturday, June 10th at 2pm at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 5416 Parkcrest Dr., Austin, Texas. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the charity of your choice. Dianne’s family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and friendship from her friends and loved ones.