Mary Diane Martin

Mary Diane Martin – Diane Martin passed away peacefully in her home on August 7, 2025, surrounded in love by her two daughters and two of her sisters. She was 68.

Diane was born in Miles City, Montana on July 28, 1957, to Donald and Dorothy (Hendrickson) Martin. She was the eldest of eight children and was admired by her siblings for her fierce intelligence, boundless imagination, boho-glam fashion sense, and talents in sewing and baking. Her cinnamon rolls, dinner buns and exquisitely decorated Christmas cookies were legendary. While growing up, Diane's family moved multiple times between the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Diane particularly loved living in the Black Hills of South Dakota and developed deep curiosity and appreciation for the natural world during these years. Her love of nature was reflected in both her professional pursuits and interests for the rest of her life.

Diane moved to Stevens Point, WI in 1985 to pursue a degree in Natural Resources. She remained in Stevens Point, raising her daughters, Blanca and JoAnne. Diane was a loving mom and instilled in her daughters her value for hard work, self-sufficiency, and careful attention to detail. She worked a variety of jobs to support her family and pursue her passion for earth sciences. Her early career included time as a conservation assistant with the Portage County Land Conservation Department and a windbreak technician with the Central Wisconsin Windshed Partnership. She later became a quality control lab technician, laborer, and equipment operator in the road construction industry. Once her daughters reached adulthood, Diane returned to school at Midstate Technical College, earning an associate's degree in Civil Engineering Technology. This was followed by a career as a construction inspector. Diane's technological skills were advanced and often outpaced those of younger family members – she even built her own computer.

Diane was an avid reader and enjoyed everything from Dorothy Sayers mysteries and biographies of arctic explorers to science-based non-fiction about birds, geology and natural history. She also enjoyed spending time with family, landscaping her yard, adding to her thoughtfully curated rock collection, and traveling to the North Shore of Lake Superior to observe migrating raptors.

In addition to her daughters, Blanca Díaz Martin and JoAnne Martin-Koob (Patrick Smyczek), Diane is survived by her grandson, Oliver Smyczek, and her siblings Tom, Amy, Elizabeth (Steve), Kate (Rick), Don (Lisa) and Steve (Jeannie), as well as seven nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Randall, and brother-in-law, Dudley.

A Celebration of Diane's Life will be held at the Dakota Lodge in Thompson Park, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN 55118, on Friday, October 3rd, 2025, from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, with a short program at 11:30 AM and lunch at 12:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Groundswell Conservancy in Diane's memory. Pisarski Funeral Homes is honored to be serving the Martin Family.