Diane Marie (Lange) Culbertson, of Rochester, passed away on October 5, 2024, after an eight-week battle with pancreatic cancer. She donated her body to the Mayo Clinic.
Diane was born on November 16, 1946, to Annabelle (Lange) Kvam in Harmony, Minn. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Harmony.
She attended country school until seventh grade and graduated from Harmony High School in 1964. Diane attended cosmetology school in Rochester after graduation and received her certification in 1965. She married Glenn Irish in 1971, to which two children were born, Jeffrey Allen Irish and Kimberley Marie Irish. They later divorced. In 1983 she married Les Culbertson but they were later divorced. Diane worked for over 40 years in the grocery industry, with the last 33 years at Silver Lake Foods in Rochester. Diane was an avid NASCAR racing fan with #24, Jeff Gordon, being her #1 driver. You could always find Diane with a diet Mountain Dew in one hand and a bag of peanut M&Ms in the other hand. She loved to travel by plane, bus, train or car.
Diane will be remembered for her love of family & friends and especially time spent with grandkids and great-grandkids.
Diane is survived by her children Jeffrey (Holly) Irish and Kimberley Irish; grandchildren Cody Irish, Hunter (Karly) Irish, CJ (Ellisa Auom) Irish, and Tiffany Kahn; great-grandchildren Lillian Luhman, Margaret Luhman, Conner Irish, Kaisen Irish and Myles Irish; siblings Vicki (Dennis) Christianson, Karen (Ed) Kauphusman, Allan Kvam and Martin (Darcy) Kvam; and one uncle, Manford (Carol) Lange. Special friends were Miranda Goodroad, Steve Johnston and Brent Luhman.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, October 18, 2024, in the Fellowship Hall of Peace United Church of Christ in Rochester from 2-5 p.m. The family would like to thank Mayo Clinic hospice for their wonderful treatment and care of Diane. Rest in peace, Diane.
Lynn Hendricks says
My heart is broken knowing i will never get to talk to Diane again. I am so mad that i could not go to her memorial today!!
Kim i am so sorry that you lost such a great mom, but i am sure you have tons of great memories. I loved working with her and chatting with her. May God bless you both with the healing process with such a great void in your lives.
Donna Tlougan says
Diane was one of my favorite cousins. She still reminds my favorite cousion even though she divorced Glenn. I’ll always cherish all the great memories i have with (Tiny ) Diane as you all know her. I’ll catch up with you again my beautiful cousin until then R.I.P. Diane.