Diane Marie Wilkinson, 74, of Solon, Iowa, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2025, at Highland Ridge Care Center in Williamsburg after living with Lewy Body Dementia in her final years.

A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, April 7, 2025, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Solon. A Funeral Mass will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with burial to follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Solon are assisting the family.

Born July 29,1950, in Clinton, Iowa, Diane was the daughter of Raymond and Kathleen (Ruess) Whitman. She graduated from Calamus High School in 1968 and went on to earn her RN from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1971. That same year, she married Dennis Wilkinson, on October 16 in Grand Mound, Iowa. As the story goes, he saw her across a crowded room—and from that moment, a love story began that would last more than fifty years, raise five kids, and welcome fifteen grandchildren.

Diane devoted her life to caring for others, both professionally and personally. As a nurse, she brought compassion and skill to the ICU at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids and St. Mary's Hospital in Galesburg, Illinois. Later, Diane brought her experience into the classroom as a nursing instructor at The University of Iowa Hospital through Kirkwood Community College and spent the final chapter of her career caring for employees at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids and Coralville.

Faith was at the center of Diane's life, and she lived it fully—especially through her years of service in Catholic youth ministry. For nearly two decades, she led youth groups in Monmouth, Illinois, and Solon, giving young people a space to grow in their faith. After Mass, her family knew the routine: grab a donut and settle in—it might be a while before Mom made her way out of the church.

The Wilkinson household made the most of every move. From Cedar Rapids to Lisbon, Monmouth to Solon, in every place they lived, they added a new circle of lifelong friends. Diane was devoted to supporting her family—sports, 4-H, dance, choir—often all in the same week. She rarely missed an event and, for better or worse, was often the loudest cheer in the crowd.

An athlete in her own right, Diane excelled in basketball and softball at a time when girls' sports were limited. She made up for it by playing in women's league softball in her early 20s and taking up golf in her 40s, where—true to form—she was a natural. Her home run at a mother-daughter softball game was legendary. As a grandma, she never turned down a game of catch, a sledding hill, a swimming party, or a driveway shoot-around with the grandkids.

If you ever left hungry from a Wilkinson gathering, that was on you. Diane loved to cook and bake, especially for the people she loved. Christmas, birthdays, and Easter egg hunts were all out-of-budget and over-the-top—in the best possible way. Easter featured "bunny money," and any disputes over eggs were settled with the rule: "If you're bleeding, you get the egg."

A farm girl at heart, Diane never lost her love for hard work and being outdoors. She and Dennis lovingly maintained beautiful homes and yards over the years, with plenty of help from their five kids—though Diane's version of "help" included weeding the flower beds, tending to the garden, and mowing the yard. She was the queen of chores which included endless folded laundry, ironed handkerchiefs, and the correct dusting order (dust then vacuum, always). Diane raised her family with a steady presence, warm heart, and high standards.

Above all, Diane was a woman of great love—fierce and faithful. She and Dennis modeled a partnership rooted in trust, laughter, and resilience. When her diagnosis came, Diane knew what lay ahead. Still, even she might be surprised—and proud—of the tenderness and strength with which Dennis cared for her in those final years. The love she so freely gave came back to her tenfold—from him, and from all those whose lives she touched.

Diane is survived by her husband of 53 years, Dennis; her children Deb (DJ) DuBois and their sons Garrett, Blake, and Carter; Laurie (Todd) Donald and their children Kaylin, Kennedy, and Kole; Nicki (Tony) Toohill and their children Ted, Nate, Anna, and Alex; Kevin (Erica) Wilkinson and their children Maddie and Matt; and Doug (Staci) Wilkinson and their children Jani, Mallory, and Brantley. She is also survived by her brothers, Wayne (Marcia) Whitman and David (Linda) Whitman; as well as extended family members and cherished friends.

We celebrate a life well lived, a legacy of love and faith, and the woman who gave so much of herself to the people and places she called home. Heaven rejoices in her arrival, and we're left with a lifetime of memories to keep her close.

Memorials may be directed to the St. Mary's Catholic Youth Group.