Diana Ipsen Behler

Diana Elisabeth Ipsen Behler

December 6, 1938 - June 22, 2024

Diana Behler was born to Walter and Marie Ipsen on December 6, 1938 in New York City and grew up in Yonkers with her older brother, Randolph. As Walter and Marie had emigrated from Northern Germany, Diana was immersed in German language and culture while also experiencing a classic storybook American childhood, making lifelong friends exploring her neighborhood and the surrounding nature of suburban New York. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, then worked as a secretary in Manhattan during her early adult years.

She later moved to Seattle, Washington and enrolled at the University of Washington, where she graduated at the top of her class with a Bachelor of Arts in Germanics. During her graduate studies, she met the extraordinary and captivating Ernst Behler. Diana and Ernst married November 24, 1967, she became a beloved stepmother to Ernst's son, Constantin, and later they welcomed two daughters, Sophia and Caroline. She completed her Ph.D. in Germanics, thereafter became a professor in the Departments of Germanics and Comparative Literature. She chaired the Department of Germanics for ten years and served as Acting Director of the Simpson Center of the Humanities for one year. She took genuine interest in the academic success and general wellbeing of countless undergraduate and graduate students. The profound impact she had on her students was evidenced by the many personal letters, emails and phone calls she would receive years later, informing her of news of their professional and personal accomplishments and expressing deep appreciation for her mentorship.

Diana was admired by her colleagues for her intellect, excellent judgement, diplomacy, and fairness. She was able to lead effectively and bring colleagues together while avoiding conflict or drama. Her daughters each took a course form her during their college years, and delighted in witnessing her warm, welcoming demeanor, her encouragement of students' expression of their ideas and questions, while maintaining very high academic standards. She published many articles and attended national and international conferences, particularly in the area of German Romanticism, and contributed significantly to Ernst's work, including editing and translation.

Family life was at the heart of Diana and Ernst's union. Diana was an outstanding cook, with an impressive collection of cookbooks that spanned every cuisine as well as every shelf in the kitchen and storage room. She somehow managed to create delicious home-cooked meals almost every night while conducting a busy professional life. Dinnertime stories of the past, discussions of current events and goals for the future were at the core of Behler family life, and whether a child or adult was speaking, every opinion mattered. The Behler home was a magnet for friends of Constantin, Sophia and Caroline, all welcomed as if they were members of our family. Diana was an immensely devoted mother, who loved each of her children fiercely, and whose support of us was unwavering. A beautiful, highly intelligent, accomplished woman with impeccable style and manners, she could also let go of all pretensions and fully engage in the moment with a childlike, playful spirit.

After Ernst Behler's premature passing in 1997, Diana was fortunate to have come to know and join lives with Hal Kempen. Their union is even more unique in that Hal's daughter, Laurie, and Constantin had married in 1997, and Diana and Hal already shared two grandchildren. Hal has provided Diana with steadfast love, joy and companionship, and also has been a beloved father-in-law to Constantin and stepfather to Sophia and Caroline.

Diana's connection to her grandchildren was one of her greatest joys. She loved taking them for ice cream, to the park, shopping and to try out new experiences. She could be formal, teaching them good etiquette, and at the same time also be spontaneous, celebratory, playful and in the moment. She encouraged them to express their opinions and wanted to know about their experiences. She loved to have fun and celebrate life. Sharing conversations, details about life events with us, her daughters, was always close to her heart. We are so grateful for her vulnerability and connection with us, her humor, wisdom and the genuine and infinite love she had for "her girls."

Diana has been a consummate traveler since a very young age, traveling to Germany for extended periods of time during her youth as well as adult life. Between the 1970s and 1990s, the Behler family relocated temporarily several times for visiting professorships in California and Germany lasting 3 months up to a year, leading to unforgettable experiences in Munich, Laguna Beach, Palo Alto, Tuebingen and Bonn. Ernst and Diana also traveled extensively for international conferences in Europe and Asia, and often weaving in a family trip or getaway for just the two of them. After Ernst's death, Diana continued to travel nationally and internationally with her daughters, with Hal, with friends, and through the UW Alumni Association. Along with most European countries, she has also visited Japan, several countries in South America and Africa, and would have continued traveling to many more if she was able.

Sadly, Diana became ill with a prolonged illness that progressed relentlessly.

She was graceful and beautiful throughout it all in true "Diana style". She always said thank you to every caretaker, even when unable to verbalize, with a glance or hand squeeze. Her eyes still lit up when she saw her daughters, grandchildren and other loved ones, and she recognized her daughters until the end. Her connection to those she loved was so strong and such a priority for her, it surpassed all. Diana passed away June 22, 2024 under the loving care of the staff at Ida Culver Broadview and Kline Galland Hospice. She was preceded in death by Ernst (September 17, 1997), and Constantin (June 22, 2016), as well as her brother Randolph in 1971. She is survived and deeply missed by her daughters Sophia Behler (Gerard Stannard), Caroline Behler (Paul Klein), her daughter-in-law/stepdaughter Laurie Kempen (Cate Horne), and her beloved grandchildren Andre Stannard (19), Alexa Stannard (16), Marley Klein (21), Stella Klein (13), Maya Behler Kempen (22), and Marius Kempen Behler (21) and by her beloved "Harry", Hal Kempen.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the University of Washington Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Fund or the Simpson Center for the Humanities Graduate Student Support Fund.

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