Diane Sherol (Krukow) Christensen

Diane Christensen, 87, of Calamus, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at Wheatland Manor, surrounded by her loving family.

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Sunday, May 19, 2024, at Faith Lutheran Church in Calamus. A Service of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 20, 2024, in the church, the Rev. Leah Holloway-Nilsen officiating. Burial will follow at Kvindherred Cemetery in rural Calamus. Memorials may be directed to Faith Lutheran Church, the Calamus Fire Department, and CALCO.

Diane Sherol Krukow was born August 24, 1936, in DeWitt to the late Ewalt Emil “Abe” and Leone (Hoffman) Krukow. She was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in DeWitt. Following graduation from DeWitt High School in 1954, Diane attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls for two years and then received a bachelor’s degree from Marycrest in Davenport. She taught in Calamus and then at John Glenn Elementary in Donahue for 27 years. Diane married Jan William Christensen July 20, 1958, at Grace Lutheran Church, DeWitt. The couple resided in Calamus, where they raised three children. She retired from John Glenn Elementary in 1995. Jan preceded her in death on October 20, 2006.

Diane was a longtime member of Faith Lutheran Church, Calamus, where she served faithfully in many capacities, women’s circle, committees, and most notably as choir director for over 50 years. She was a member of The Village Voices and directed the Krukow Kousins. Diane was a lifelong learner who loved to read. She also enjoyed gardening, growing flowers, and planting trees. Diane loved helping in her community, and volunteered for everything. She kept her family close through yearly family vacations to White Lake in Montello, Wisconsin. Most important in her life were her faith and family. Diane loved being involved in her family’s lives, never missing a child’s activity, whether a concert or play, a church or sports event, a holiday, or any other occasion.

Surviving are her children, Kim Steffens and her husband, Scott of DeWitt, Yale Christensen and his wife, Brenda of Calamus, and Chad Christensen and his wife, Colette of Calamus; grandchildren, Kelsey (Cale) Edwards, Kramer (MacKenzie) Steffens, Rebecca (Zach) Shorter, Mitchel (Melissa) Christensen, Nolan (Victoria Anderson) Christensen, and Makenna (Peyton) River; great-grandchildren Tate, Kellan, Oslo, River, Kinnick, Rachel, Caycee, Lucas, Bennett, Natalie, Everlee, Calum; a sister, Joyce Fletcher; a sister-in-law, Sharon Braunschweig; nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Merlyn (LaVoy) Krukow, sister, Coral (Don) Hesse, brothers-in-law, Vernon “Gabby” Fletcher and Robert Braunschweig.

Arrangements are in the care of Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt. Condolences may be expressed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com

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