Diane Adee

Diane Adee passed away at her home in Abilene, Jansas, on December 11, 2025. Diane was born on a summer day, June 3, 1942, in Saginaw, Michigan. She is the daughter of Fred and Mildred Luitje of New Haven, Michigan, where she grew up on the family farm. She was the youngest sister to her siblings, Beverly Paulson (and Jim), Shirley Hellenthal, Joann DeCair, Richard Laeder (and Bonnie) and youngest brother, Jackie Miller. She went to New Haven High School in New Haven, Michigan, graduating in the class of 1960. She married John Albert Nielsen, an Army veteran, in 1961 and they had 5 children; John Raymond Nielsen, Roseann Marie (Nielsen) Diller; James Jay Nielsen, Antone Wayne Nielsen and Colline Lynn (Nielsen) Cheltenham. Their family resided in Midland, Michigan. Diane moved from Michigan to Abilene, Kansas in 1991, to be nearer to her oldest son, John, who was returning to the United States after he served the Army during Operation Desert Storm. Her son, Antone Wayne, also served in Operation Desert Storm and served as a Marine. Diane loved her children immensely. Diane always had a keen sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. She spent most of her career serving others working as a cook in long term care facilities in Abilene. Diane loved being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.

Diane is preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Mildred and her siblings, Beverly, Joann and Jackie. She is survived by her daughters Roseann Diller and Colline Cheltman, and her sons, John Nielsen, Jim Nielsen and Tony Nielsen, as well as her brother and sister, Richard Leader and Shirley Hellenthal.

Diane's children have followed through with their mother's wish to be cremated and returned to Michigan where her children will hold a private ceremony. There will be no formal funeral services.