Diane Weir

Diane Weir

On March 10, 2019, Diane Weir slipped into the ether at the age of 85 years. She died quietly and with dignity in her home in the care of her daughter Susan. A Visitation at 10 am and Mass at 11 am will be held on Monday, July 1, 2019 at Sacred Heart Church, 1627 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265.

 

Diane was many things: a Chicago southsider, a sister, an aunt, a mother of four kids, a journalism teacher at Lincoln High School in Des Moines. She had 5 grandkids. She traveled. She made quilts. She played bridge. She drank martinis. She was a Catholic, a Democrat, and had opinions. Strong opinions. She laughed. A lot. She made us all laugh. A lot. She was generous and welcoming. She was a force.

 

Born Shirley Diane Stephenson on September 15, 1933, her name was inspired by the child actress Shirley Temple, but she chose to go by Diane as a child. Diane attended St Patrick's School and Mercy High School on Chicago's southside. She graduated from N...[more]

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rthern Illinois University. Diane was a mother and homemaker until she started teaching at Lincoln High School in 1975. She was the journalism teacher and produced the award-winning newspaper, The Railsplitter, and worked with students to publish yearbooks for 20 years. She retired from teaching in 1995.

 

After retirement, Diane threw herself into activities which included quilting, traveling, playing bridge and Scrabble, and being an actor-patient to help train medical students at Des Moines University. She also worked as a volunteer, coaching young children to hone their public speaking skills. Diane travelled to 11 countries.

 

Diane is survived by her sister and brother-in-law Margie and Tom Gibbons of Long Valley, NJ and her four children Karen Weir-Jimerson (Doug Jimerson) of Eastpoint, FL, Robert Weir (Carina Ahren) of Havertown, PA, Susan Weir of Davenport, IA, and Jennifer Weir (Richard Kelley) of El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain. Diane had five grandchildren, Tristan Jimerson, Graham Jimerson, Oksana Weir, Isabel Weir, and Noah Weir as well as nieces and nephews, Loral Jagman, David and Paul Pardee, and Mike, Pat, and Sean Gibbons, and their families.

 

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Loral and Al Stephenson and her sister, Patricia Pardee. Please make contributions to Sacred Heart Church in West Des Moines, IA or to The American Cancer Society.

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