Diane Eleanor Wolfe was born in Milwaukee, WI to Merle Rodney Wolfe and Eunice Louise (Reindl) Wolfe on January 30, 1940. She attended Washington High School and graduated in 1958. She worked for the gas company, where she picked up drafting skills, and in 1960 she married James (Jim) A. Hildenbrand.
A promotion from Jim’s employer (Schlitz Brewery) landed them in California for a brief time and then to Pearl City (Pacific Palisades) on Oahu, Hawaii,where Jim managed Schlitz’s subsidiary, Primo Brewery (“Hawai’i’s Original Beer”) in 1966. Together they had 3 children: Michael, Cathy, and Jeanie. While their marriage ended in divorce in 1971, they remained life-long friends.
Diane graduated from the University of Hawaii in 1976 with a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Liberal Studies (Consumer Protection). She had a long,illustrious career in Human Relations as aCivilian Program Management Specialist for the Department of Defense at the U.S. Pacific Command in Pearl Harbor starting in 1974 until she retired in 2004 as a GS-13.
Diane took up motorcycle riding in the early 70’s and owned a bright red Harley Hugger that she rode into her late 60’s. She eventually re-designed her Palisades home to be the ideal place to host social gatherings. Her kindness and generosity towards friends and extended family included opening her home to those who would otherwise be alone for the holidays to share the joy and love with her family.
Diane lived in Hawaii until November 2013 when she moved to Colorado Springs, CO to be closer to family. Her love of music, fromHawaiian to Rock, especially The Beatles, carried with her to the end.She enjoyed watching Opera, Broadway Plays & Musicals, Bell Ringing, and other Concerts. She was an active member of the Unity Church in Hawaii and Colorado and regularly attended “A Course in Miracles” classes. Her open-minded curiosity fed her desire to be a perpetual student of spirituality.
She is preceded in death by her parents, sister (Marilyn Knackert), and Grandson (Zachary Peters). She is survived by her son Michael Hildenbrand (Las Vegas, NV), daughter Cathy (Steve) Peters (Corvallis, OR), daughter Jeanie Ayala (Kevin Gardner) (Colorado Springs, CO), Grandsons: Jevan and Jareson Ayala, and Granddaughters: Nicole (Mike) Malland and Alexa Peters, and Sisters: Dolores Hansen, Beverly Braasch, and Janet Nuszbaum as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Her family will be holding a Celebration of Life Tribute for Diane on Oahu, Hawaii in late May of 2021.
We would be extremely grateful if you would take a moment to share a memory of her here. In Lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary donation to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (www.LBDA.org) in her honor ."
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