Diane Jean Chambers (Schlenker), age 79, passed away November 30, 2024. A visitation will be held on December 5, 2024 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Ankeny Funeral Home. A memorial service will follow at 6:00pm.
Diane was born on February 7, 1945 to LeRoy and Gladyce Schlenker in Grimes, Iowa. She grew up on the family farm, where she excelled at showing pigs and horses at the county and state fairs. She was a good basketball player and liked to swim over at Camp Dodge. Diane graduated from Johnston High School in 1963. She married her long-time love, Robert, in November of 1964. Together, they lived on "Grant Street" in Ankeny, where they raised their four beautiful children, Jeff, John, Karl, and Jill. She started her career as a bus driver and then became secretary of maintenance. Diane later earned the title of the Head of Transportation for the Ankeny Community School District, and she loved it. Later in life, Diane and Bob moved back to the family farm in Grimes where Diane grew up.
Her biggest joy was having her grandkids gather at "the farm" for outdoor activities, which consisted of riding (and crashing) the gator and four wheelers, swimming in the pool, and endless hours jumping on the trampoline. These days usually ended with sleepovers, including buttered noodles and poached eggs on toast with bacon.
One of Diane's favorite pastimes was playing cards with her girl group and poker bunch. She enjoyed playing games with family and friends. Diane and Bob loved to go to casinos together, "spending their children's inheritance."
Diane is survived by her loving husband, Bob Chambers; her children, Jeff (Cindy) Chambers, John (Kelly) Chambers, Karl "Kype" (Jenni) Chambers, and Jill (Rick) Dakovich; grandchildren, Chace (Paulina), Chaz (Rachel), Chayden, Chyla, Katelyn (Tyler) Pagliai, Mikaela, Kylee, Alissa (Justin) Kleywegt, Josh, Joel, Jacob Dakovich, Jacey Dakovich; great-grandchildren, Bryar Pagliai, Elena Chambers, Reid Kleywegt.
She is preceded in death by her parents, LeRoy and Gladyce Schlenker; brothers, Eldon Schlenker and Karl Schlenker; sister, Marilyn Bauer; and son-in-law, Rick Dakovich
In lieu of flowers or memorial contributions, donations may be made to St. Judes or any cancer research organization of your choosing.
