Diana Lou (Beyer) Zimmerman

Diana Lou Beyer Zimmerman went to be with her Lord and Savior on May 20, 2024. Diana passed away, surrounded by her family in her son’s home in St. Cloud, Minnesota, after a courageous cancer battle.

Diana was born on January 21, 1946 to her beloved parents Walter and Cora (Raguse) Beyer.  Cora was playing pinochle with neighbors when she laid down 1,000 aces and said it was time to go to the hospital in Wheaton. It became a game Diana loved herself and taught to her children and grandchildren. Diana was baptized at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Taylor Township, and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Monson Township, in 1960.

She graduated from Wheaton High School in 1964 and went on to work at the Fargo Clinic in Fargo before beginning her travels. She first moved to Fresno, California with her sister, Elaine and cousin, Jacie and worked at AAA Insurance in the Claims Department. Two years later, she moved to Denver, Colorado where she worked for a mortgage company. At the age of 24, she spent three months backpacking and traveling by train through 17 countries in Europe with three friends.

After returning home, she started dating her best friend’s brother, Darrell Zimmerman. Following eight months of courtship, they were married on August 26, 1972 at Immanuel Lutheran Church. They had two children, Stacy Dee and Ryan Darrell. Her family meant a lot to her and she made them the center of her world. She had four beautiful grandchildren Kalyn, Reid, Ashley and Austin — who she loved to spoil. Diana treated her daughter-in-law, Dawn, and son-in-law, Barry, like they were her own.

She loved helping on the farm, especially driving the grain truck, gardening, fishing and mowing the lawn. She also worked at Lynn’s Clothing and Wheaton Clinic before opening her own business, The Affair, in downtown Wheaton with a good friend.

She enjoyed spending time at Ten Mile Lake, where her parents had a camper and she and Darrell continued the tradition. Fishing was a high priority as well as playing cards and visiting with friends. Most of all, she loved time with her grandkids and always had fun planned for them. She traveled to almost all 50 states and visited Australia twice with Darrell. After retirement, they spent winters in Green Valley, Arizona, where she became a shuffle board champion. She shared her love of travel with her family, creating lasting memories from Disney to the Rocky Mountains to the North Shore.

Diana’s life was marked by service and faith. She could always be counted on to volunteer, pray, and go above and beyond to make people feel valued. Diana was an active member at St. John Lutheran, serving in Sunday School, Friends in Christ, Circle, Funeral Committee and Bell Chimes. She also was involved in Homemakers Group and served on the Traverse County Extension Board.

Diana is survived by her husband, Darrell; daughter Stacy (Barry) Hansen; son Ryan (Dawn) Zimmerman; four grandchildren, Kalyn and Reid Hansen, Ashley and Austin Zimmerman; sisters Lorraine Montoya and Elaine (Denny) Davis; brother Donald (Dalla) Beyer and several nieces and nephews.
 
 She was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Cora Beyer; father-in-law William Zimmerman; mother-in-law Eva Zimmerman; brothers-in law William (Leila Jo) Zimmerman and Arnold Zimmerman, and sister-in-law Darlene (Lynn) Behan.

A Celebration Of Life Service will be held Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Rev. Dan Gifford officiating. Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 28^th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church. Visitation will continue Wednesday morning one hour prior to service time at the church. Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton.