Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 10:30 AM, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Humphrey with Fr. Dan Wittrock celebrating the Mass. Visitation will be on Monday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM with nursing honors by the Nebraska Nurses Honor Guard followed by a vigil service beginning at 7:00 PM, all at the church. Visitation will continue on Tuesday from 9:30 AM until service time, also at the church. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Francis Endowment Fund, American Cancer Society, or those of family choice.

Diane was born on April 2, 1951, in West Point, Nebraska, to Leonard and Mildred (Uhing) Prinz. She grew up surrounded by family, faith, and the joys of rural Nebraska life. As a young girl, she loved being outdoors— riding horses, helping sort cattle with her father, golfing with her mother, and spending time with neighborhood friends. Those early experiences instilled in her a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for family and community.

She attended Guardian Angels Elementary School and graduated from Central Catholic High School in West Point in 1969. She met Kenneth McGill after a CC basketball game in high school, and they started dating during the fall of their senior year — the beginning of a lifelong partnership. Diane and Ken were married in 1971. Diane attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and later the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where she earned her Registered Nursing degree.

Throughout their marriage, Ken and Diane lived their vows — standing faithfully by one another in good times and in bad, facing every challenge with perseverance and strength. They first built a home in West Point before purchasing farmland northwest of Wisner. Diane embraced farm life wholeheartedly. Whether helping work cattle, pulling calves, gardening, canning food, or caring for her growing family, she was fully involved in every aspect of farm life. The family later lived near Pilger before making Humphrey their permanent home in 1984.

Along the way, Diane and Ken welcomed six children into their family: Rian in 1972, Shannon in 1974, Kenneth Jr. in 1975, Shayla in 1977, Keely in 1982, and Nora in 1989. Diane devoted herself to creating a loving home where faith, hard work, and generosity were daily lessons. She attended countless activities, volunteered at school events, and ran concession stands through the Flyer Booster Club.

Faith remained the foundation

of Diane's life. While living near Wisner, she taught catechism and was active in Ladies Guild. After moving to Humphrey, she became deeply involved in St. Francis Catholic Church and School, serving through Christian Mothers, The Craft Ladies, and numerous volunteer efforts. Seeing all six of her children graduate from Humphrey St. Francis was one of her greatest joys.

Alongside raising her family and serving her parish, Diane built a nursing career defined by compassion and service. She worked at West Point Hospital before joining Mory's Haven Nursing Home in Columbus in 1984. Through years of dedication and leadership, she eventually became Director of Nursing. Patients, residents, families, and coworkers knew her as someone who genuinely cared.

Diane was endlessly creative and remarkably resourceful. Long before Pinterest existed, Diane was redesigning rooms, refinishing furniture, creating and altering dresses, sewing baby blankets, making beautiful flower arrangements, painting toys, styling hair for special occasions, and tackling whatever project came her way. Her coffee often grew cold because she had moved on to the next project. She had a gift for making something beautiful out of very little, teaching herself new skills to increase the beauty and enjoyment of the world around her. If something was broken, she fixed it. If something needed improvement, she found a way to make it better.

She was a homemaker in the truest sense of the word. An early riser who treasured the quiet of the morning, Diane preserved and perfected family recipes and traditions with the same dedication she gave everything else. No one went hungry at Grandma’s house. Whether canning produce from her garden, baking bars and pies for family gatherings, decorating cakes, or preparing meals for those she loved, Diane expressed love through the work of her hands.

One of Diane's favorite family traditions was the annual trip to Ponca State Park. In the midst of the demands of farming, nursing, volunteering, and raising six children, Ponca was her chance to create a few days of pure fun for her family. For one weekend each year, the usual responsibilities gave way to laughter, adventure, and time together. To her children, “It’s Ponca!” became more than a vacation—it became a treasured family tradition and part of the legacy she passed on to the next generation.

In her later years, Diane found great joy in her growing family. She especially loved babies and treasured every opportunity to hold a newborn, babysit grandchildren, attend their activities, follow ball games when she could not be there in person, celebrate milestones, and simply spend time with those she loved. Her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren brought her immense pride and happiness.

In March 2025, Diane was diagnosed with stage 4 endometrial cancer. She faced her illness with the same strength, faith, and determination that marked the rest of her life. Never one to complain, she met each setback with courage and perseverance, grateful for each day she was given and always hoping for more time with those she loved. Even in suffering, her faith remained steady, and she continued to point her children and grandchildren toward eternity especially through her beautiful devotion to watching daily Mass and praying the rosary. She fought hard until the very end, desiring above all to remain present to the people she loved most.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Kenneth Son: Rian (Katie) & grandchildren Patrick, Lauren, and Frank Daughter: Shannon (Aaron) Kosch & grandchildren Naomi (Matt) Davis and great grandchildren Kolbe, Miriam, and Jonah; Colson (Grace) and great grandchildren Annie and Clara; Clarissa (William) Elgert and great grandson Benedict; and Kiley Son: Kenneth Jr. (Robyn) & grandchildren Miles, Kenton, and Garret Daughter: Shayla (Daniel) Wiese & grandchildren Brianna, Alyssa, and Caitlin Daughter: Keely (Scott) Preister & grandchildren Elizabeth and Evan Daughter: Nora (Justin) & grandchildren Marie, Mildred, Joseph, and Meredith And many dear friends and family Diane is preceded in death by her parents Leonard and Mildred (Uhing) Prinz, brothers Glen Prinz, David Prinz and sister Susan (Prinz) McGill; and Grandson, Marius Wiese (Dan and Shayla's son). Mother-andfather- in-law Patrick Jr. and Elizabeth 'Bly' (Fleming) Mc-Gill, and in-laws Conleth Mc-Gill, Rozanne (McGill) Kenney, Patrick III McGill, and Clement and Sheila (Fogarty) McGill, and nephews Andrew McGill, Matthew McGill, and Christopher Gabriel Diane's greatest legacy is the faith she lived, the family she nurtured, and the countless lives she touched through her kindness and generosity. Her family will forever cherish the example she set and the love she gave so freely. Though she will be deeply missed, her love, faith, and servant's heart will live on in all who knew her.

Condolences may be sent to www.gasshaney.com