Diane E. Gere, 76, of Davenport, passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at the Summit of Bettendorf. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at Weerts Funeral Home. Casual attire is encouraged. A memorial service and inurnment will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to The Alzheimer's Association. Online condolences may be expressed at www.weertsfh.com
Diane was born on October 8, 1947 in Moline, IL to Everett and Marjorie (Leane) Dickens. She spent her childhood on the move for her father’s career, growing up in several Iowa towns, as well as Sydney, Australia. She always looked forward to visits with the big and loving Dickens family in New Boston, IL. Diane graduated from East High School in Des Moines, IA, in 1965. She went on to attend Iowa State University, where she earned a BA in English with a teaching certificate, and connected with an admiring classmate, John Gere. Two young people, deeply in love, John and Diane wed on August 17, 1968 in Des Moines.
After years of working as a school teacher in the Davenport Public Schools, and starting a family with John, Diane earned her Master's degree from the University of Iowa in Instructional Design. She worked for the Eastern Iowa Community College District as an instructional designer and educator, as well as independently, until her retirement in 2009.
Diane was an active member of First Presbyterian Church. She was an ordained elder and deacon, and took every opportunity to serve her church community and help others in need, especially refugees and other newcomers to this country.
Diane found sanctuary in her garden from dawn until dusk. She was an avid reader, conversationalist, lover of art and music, and brilliant, free thinker. She was an activist deeply concerned with human rights and climate change, and charged her friends and family to join her in making the world a better place. She was known on many occasions to drop everything and put her life on hold to help a friend or family member in crisis, sometimes for months at a time. Above all, she was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, always there to support, inspire, and guide her husband, daughters, and grandchildren through good times and bad.
Survivors include her loving husband John; children, Jennie Gere (Jimmy LaSota), Marji Gere (Dan Sedgwick) and Cherie Gere-Dahlstrom (David Dahlstrom); grandchildren, Corwin, Asher, Ethan and Johnny; and Arthur Pontvianne, regarded with love as her son in Brazil. Diane's family appreciates the incredible care she received at Senior Star at Elmore Place and The Summit of Bettendorf.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
