Diane C. Richards

Richards, Diane C.

(nee Koepke), Wednesday July 24, 2013 age 66 years. Wife of Jack Richards. Mother of Dennis (Christine), Amy (Dave) Kufahl, the late Nicholas, and Heidi (Peter) Bontempo. Nana of Megan, Mason, Lauren, Jack, Nathan, Bailey, Hailee, Caiti, Brody, and London. Daughter of the late Claretta and George Koepke. Sister of Sue Fillinger, Joanne “Jackie” Owen, and Richard Koepke. Also survived by her lifelong friend Wendy Sleight. Further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Diane grew up in Wauwatosa where she attended Wauwatosa West High School. She graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a teaching degree in 1969. She started teaching at Blair Elementary School in Waukesha.

Diane met her husband Jack in February 1970 and they got married on October 3 of that same year. They celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary last year. Theirs was a love story to end all love stories. Jack and Diane were soul mates and created a family with 4 children and 10 grandchildren.

Although Diane started as a school teacher, she left teaching after the birth of her son Dennis. She discovered that she had a talent for painting and she pursued her passion to heights unimaginable. She painted beautiful flowers and created custom painted wood pieces with Jack that were sold throughout the country.

Not only was Diane a successful artist, she was a very successful art teacher. She taught painting throughout the U.S. to countless budding artists and became internationally known with offers to teach overseas. She also had many books published on her work.

After 30 years of painting, Diane found watercolors to be her passion. She joined the Milwaukee League of Artists and had pieces displayed in galleries throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.
In the last few years, Diane became a docent at the Milwaukee Art Museum, where she later earned the award for Docent of the Year. She loved art history and one of the highlights of her life was travelling to France to visit the Monet Gardens.

Diane was always a positive person to everyone she came in contact with. She had a beautiful smile and a contagious laugh. Her most repeated phrase was “It’s going to be ok.” She inspired everyone with her positive outlook, her strength, and her unconditional love. She was a truly extraordinary person that lived an amazing life.
“It’s going to be ok.”

Memorial visitation Wednesday, July 31st, from 4:00 – 7:00pm at the Funeral Home. Memorial service at 7:00pm.

Special thanks to Dr. Margery Howard and Dr. George Bobustuc, Aurora VAN Zilber Family Hospice, and her guardian angel, Jon Krueger, RN at St. Luke’s ER.
If desired memorials may be made to Milwaukee Art Museum Docent Fund

HERITAGE FUNERAL HOMES
New Berlin Chapel
16880 W. National 262-901-1140
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