Diane Rose Kliewer

She is survived by her three children, Konrad Kliewer (Janet), Julie Kliewer; and Rebecca Kliewer Nickless (Gary); her eight grandchildren, Jason and Ryan Bush, Cassandra Lillibridge, Kelsea Culp, Joe Nickless (Andi), Jon Nickless (Meghan), Joshua and Natalie Nickless, and six great-grandchildren Sammie, Benjamin, and Blaine Bush, Emma and Luke Nickless, and Charli Nickless. She is preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Vernon Kliewer, parents Jacob J. Suter and Rose Kershner Suter, and her brother Rod Suter.

Diane was born on August 25, 1932 in Bloomington, Illinois where she graduated from high school. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from Illinois Wesleyan University, and this is where she met and married her life-long partner in adventure, Vernon Kliewer, on August 29, 1954.

After leaving Illinois, Diane and Vernon lived in Flagstaff, Arizona, where Konrad and Julie were born, then returned to the Midwest and resided in Bloomington, Indiana, where Rebecca was born. While in Bloomington, Diane completed her Master’s in Library Science at IU, and had various jobs including piano teacher, administrative assistant at Phi Delta Kappa, and the position she retired from, working one floor down from Vernon at the IU School of Music, in the undergraduate office.

While living in Indiana, Diane enjoyed many interests. Along with Vernon, she developed abundant flower and vegetable gardens and Diane enjoyed cycling and walking. Diane’s adventures with Vern included several European trips, an Alaskan cruise, a sabbatical in Holland, travels around the United States including backpacking in the Grand Canyon, and numerous trips to visit children and grandchildren. Diane and Vern retired to Arizona, where they enjoyed exploring the area, collecting native artwork, and desert landscaping. They were known in Tucson for their neighborhood dinner parties with vast spreads of eclectic foods.

Diane is remembered as a kind, gentle, and strong individual, a supportive and loving wife and mother, with a constant smile and subtle sense of humor, and generous hospitality for all guests.

A celebration of life will be held at Leppert Mortuary, 900 N Rangeline Road, Carmel, Indiana on Wednesday, March 13th. Visitation will be from 2:00-4:00 p.m. with a memorial service commencing at 4:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, her family asks that a donation be made in recognition of Diane to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tuscon, Arizona. https://www.desertmuseum.org