Diane I Widmer

When reflecting on the life of Diane Widmer, it is easy to see the selfless and unconditional love she had for those around her. She even had a way of making the ordinary extraordinary, and her zest for life was contagious to all who were near. Diane was deeply devoted to her family, and there was nothing she treasured more than being a wife and mother. Guided by an unwavering faith, she exemplified what it means to be the hands and feet of the Lord she loved. Life will never be the same without Diane here, but she leaves behind a timeless legacy that her loved ones will proudly carry on in her footsteps.

The 1960s were an exciting time in America. It was during this decade that we elected the young John F. Kennedy as our 35th President of the United States, only to mourn his death before he had finished his first term. There was also much to celebrate during this time as by the end of the decade as we had put the first man on the moon. Also during this time was a time of great excitement in the lives of John and Erna Juckem (Crazzolara) Juckem as they announced the birth of the baby girl they named Diane Irma on January 9, 1969, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As the youngest of three, she was joined in her family by her sister, Susan, and her brother, Steven. Diane’s father worked for the We Energies Oak Creek power plant while her mother was a busy homemaker. When she was very young, Diane and her family moved to Franklin, which is where she spent the rest of her childhood.

In many ways Diane was a typical young girl. She attended local schools including Franklin High School. In addition to holding down her studies she worked part-time at McDonald’s. In 1984, Diane took a memorable trip to Italy with her mother to visit family. She went on to graduate from high school in 1987.

Not to be forgotten during Diane’s younger years was her introduction to the young man who would forever hold the key to her heart. His name was Paul Widmer, and they met while working together at McDonald’s in Oak Creek when she was just 16. They began dating on November 7, 1985, and it didn’t take them long to fall in love. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together Diane and Paul were married on May 6th, 1989, marking the beginning of a new chapter in a love story that would span more than 29 years. Together they welcomed two children, Jacob Paul, who was born on April 21, 1993, and Sarah Elizabeth, who was born on November 20, 2001, into their hearts and home. Diane cherished her role as a mother, and she loved taking care of her family more than anything else.

Second only to her faith was the love Diane had for her family. She went over and above for holiday gatherings and birthday celebrations with Thanksgiving and Christmas being favorites. Every year she hosted Christmas breakfast and served her famous egg bake, which was something everyone looked forward to. Diane was always looking for any cause to spend time with family because there was simply nothing more important to her. The two greatest days of her life were when Jacob and Sarah were born, and she was selfless in the way she cared for her husband and children. Diane was always there anytime a friend or loved one needed her no matter the personal sacrifice. It was easy to see that she was the glue that held many relationships together. Game nights were something they looked forward to having as often as they could.

Throughout her life Diane was a woman of many interests. Anyone who knew Diane knew of her love for Disney, which started with her first trip to Disney as a teen with her sister, Sue. Once she and Paul were married they took their first trip to Disney, and they took many more trips once they had Jacob and Sarah. Diane and Paul were members of Parkway Church in Oak Creek where they were married, and church was an important part of their family. Diane worked various part-time jobs including working as a bank teller, in the subrogation department of an insurance company, and for Aldi Foods. In her free time, Diane loved going antiquing, playing mini-golf, watching Hallmark movies, fishing with the kids, and she also liked Kopp’s red raspberry custard, and baking. Her favorite movies were any Hallmark movie as well as Lion King, Tangled, and Toy Story. Diane’s favorite television shows were Hawaii Five-O, The Middle, Gilmore Girls, Family Feud, and Wheel of Fortune. She enjoyed listening to Christian music, The Bee-Gee’s, and John Denver. Other than the Packers, Team Widmer was her favorite team to be affiliated with. Among her favorite sayings were, “Oh Jiminy,” “Love you to the moon and back,” and, “Love you the mostest.”

All who knew Diane Widmer would agree that she was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She was always loving, never disapproving, and she was a positive influence in the lives of everyone around her. Diane was the shoulder everyone could lean on, even if they didn’t know it, and she was selfless almost to a fault. She was passionately devoted to her family, and she was happiest when surrounded by their love. Graceful, intelligent, and filled with unconditional love, Diane will be dearly missed and never forgotten.

Diane I. (nee Juckem) Widmer entered into her Rest, November 6, 2018. Age 49 years. Beloved wife of Paul Widmer. Cherished mother of Jacob Widmer and Sarah Widmer. Dear sister of Susan (Craig) Black and Steve (Denice) Juckem. Further survived by other relatives and friends. Diane was preceded in death by her parents John and Erna Juckem. Visitation Friday, November 9, 2018 at Parkway Apostolic Church 10940 S. Nicholson Road, Oak Creek, WI 53154 from 3:00 PM until 6:45 PM., Funeral Service to follow at 7:00 PM. Interment Forest Hill Memorial Park Oak Creek, WI. In lieu of flowers memorials to Make a Wish Wisconsin. Niemann Suminski. Lifestory Funeral Home, 414-744-5156, SuminskiFuneralHome.com