Lois L. Diehm

John 5:25

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life……he has crossed over from death to life”.

On Saturday, January 4th our Lord summoned Lois Lenor Diehm, 92 of Avilla, to His heavenly home. Lois was born November 28th, 1932, in rural Avilla to George M. and Sadie L. (Mead) Hess. She was the 9th of 10 children. Her family moved from Avilla to rural Huntertown. She shared many stories of her youth spent with her siblings, her ornery brothers and sweet sisters. Her love of family deeply rooted; her love for her Lord deeper.  She loved nature, gardening, flowers and a challenge. Fittingly she met Wayne E. Diehm, also of rural Avilla. They married November 24th, 1951, in Immanuel Lutheran Church, Avilla.

Lois and Wayne were original members of Beautiful Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church of Fort Wayne. Lois served its congregation in many roles. She was Sunday school and VBS teacher. 

She was a member of the Ladies Aid. Her talent of floral design often graced the church alter.

Lois worked at General Electric, then as a helpmate to her husband as farmwife, homemaker and mother.  Lois and Wayne established their home in rural Kendallville. Their love for each other grew as did their family. Lois enjoyed hosting dinners for family and friends. She was a wonderful cook and baker, renowned for her pies and cinnamon rolls.  She also baked wedding cakes and special event cakes. Lois loved Christmas and she gifted homemade cookies and candy to family, friends and neighbors. She hosted Halloween parties, slip and slide parties, and back to school parties for her grandchildren.  She had a deep love for children, intuitively reading their personalities and delighting in all their uniqueness. She would light up when her grandchildren would visit.

Lois was a member of Noble County Gas and Steam. She also enjoyed crafting and was the “farmers wife” in the “Farmers Daughters” family crafting group.  Her greatest gift to her family was the model of Christian faith she lived. She will be greatly missed, and we rejoice in knowing she rests in the presence of her Savior Jesus Christ.

Lois is survived by her children: Darlene (Tom) Gisel of Kendallville, Karen (Mike) Albaugh of Kendallville, Elizabeth Pfafman of Kendallville, Janice Bradley of Avilla, Barbara (Eric) Wolf of Kendallville, Wayne (Jennifer) Diehm of Kendallville, Jonathan Diehm of Kendallville, and Daugher-in-law Shelly Diehm of Kendallville.  Other survivors include her grandchildren: BethAnn (Jon) Meier of Sun Prairie Wisconsin, Andrew (Kristin) Gisel of Kendallville, Matthew (Nikki) Gisel of Wawaka, Laura (Shanan) Miller of Auburn, Michelle (Patrick) Eggering of Kendallville, Melissa (Rob) Kirkpatrick of Albion, Carrie (Ryan) VanGessel of Kendallville, Richard (Cortney) Albaugh of Waterloo, Cristy (Zach) Fuhrman of Waterloo, Tiffany (John) Parks of Albion, Heath (Trina) Pfafman of Kendallville, Amy (Jeremy) Spidel of Kendallville, Joel (Jen Woznick) Pfafman of Kendallville, Justin (Ashley) Bradley of LaOtto, Skylar (Sabra) Bradley of Avilla, Amanda (Andy) Uhl of Avilla, Ethan Wolf of Kendallville, Deric (Errin) Wolf of Avilla, Devin Wolf of Kendallville, Kirsten (Bryson) Nesbitt of Kendallville, Jacquelyn (Kory) Walkup of Kendallville, Kimberely (Marshall) Mossman of Rome City, Olivia (Brady) Oberlin of Hamilton, Wayne (Brooke) Diehm, III of Kendallville, Clayton (Logan) Diehm of Kendallville, Levi (Sierra) Diehm of Kendallville, Lynn (Bryce) Shively of Theodore, AL, Rebekah Diehm of Nashville, TN, Samuel Diehm of Kendallville, Lucas Diehm of Kendallville, Jacob Diehm of Kendallville, Lauren Diehm of Kendallville, and 76 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren with baby Nesbitt due in the Spring.  Numerous nieces and nephews.

Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Pat (Howard)Hess and Doris (George) Hess, Brother-in-law Carl (Sharon) Diehm

Lois was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Wayne E. Diehm; Son Roger Diehm of Kendallville; Son-in-law, Gary Pfafman; her siblings, Genevieve (Joe) Carson, Ruth (Keith) Heffelfinger, Eileen (Paul) Stein, Richard Hess, Merton (Marcelle) Hess, D. Hubert (Deloris) Hess, Howard (Patricia) Hess, Merlin (Doretta) Hess, George (Doris) Hess. Sister-in-law Dorthy (Roy) Porter, Brother-in-law George (Deloris) Diehm.

Visitation is Monday, January 6th, 2025, at Harper Funeral Home, Avilla Chapel, 530 N Main St., Avilla, from 3pm to 8pm and one hour prior to service at the church.

Service will be Tuesday, January 7th, 2025, at 11am, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 111 W Albion St., Avilla, Indiana. Burial will follow the service at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery N 900 E. Avilla, Indiana.  Pallbearers will be Matthew Gisel, Joel Pfafman, Skylar Bradley, Deric Wolf, Devin Wolf, Clayton Diehm, Samuel Diehm, and Jacob Diehm.

In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials are to Beautiful Savior Ev. Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne and Noble House Ministries, Albion, IN.

To sign the online guestbook or leave a condolence, visit www.harperfuneralhomes.com

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