Diane Marie Wilkinson

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 4-7 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, 2025, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with burial to follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Solon is in charge of arrangements. 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 roomâ€"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 fullyâ€"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 inâ€"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 familyâ€"sports, 4-H, dance, choirâ€"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, whereâ€"true to formâ€"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. Above all, Diane was a woman of great loveâ€"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 surprisedâ€"and proudâ€"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 tenfoldâ€"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, Laurie (Todd) Donald, Nicki (Tony) Toohill, Kevin (Erica) Wilkinson, and Doug (Staci) Wilkinson; her 15 grandchildren who lit up her world; 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. Memorials may be directed to the St. Mary's Catholic Youth Group. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com