Diane L. (Stecher) Unrein

Diane L. (Stecher) Unrein, 70, of Linwood, Kansas, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, November 28, 2021. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, December 3, 2021, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa. Family will meet with friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Thursday, December 2, 2021, at the mortuary. Interment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa. Diane was born March 21, 1951, in Baldwin City, Kansas, the daughter of Cecil L. and Lucile M. (Stewart) Stecher. She lived in Eudora, Kansas for 10 years, moving to Linwood, where she made her home for the last 18 years. She graduated from Baldwin City High School with the Class of 1969. On April 5, 1997, Diane was united in marriage to Tim Unrein in Eudora, Kansas. They celebrated 24 years of marriage. Diane was employed at Stokley Van Camp in Lawrence in quality control from the 1970’s to the early 1980’s; Sunflower Ammunition Plant in De Soto in quality control from the early 1980’s to early 1990’s; and Arrowhead Forensics in Lenexa in quality control-production management from the early 1990’s until her retirement in 2019. Diane was a very generous person to everyone she met. She volunteered with many organizations including Harvesters, Just Food, Meals on Wheels, and the Lawrence Humane Society. She was an avid reader, enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking, and watching KU basketball. Diane especially enjoyed raising chickens and loved her dog, Jake. She always looked forward to the time she spent with family and always loved family dinners and the grandchildren’s sporting events. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Delpha Callahan-Pacheco, and niece Patti Likes. Survivors include her husband Tim of the home; seven children, Bruce Rockhold (Ken Hagenback) of Williamsburg, Vicki Evans of Ottawa, Erica Chalender (Jim Eubanks) of Lawrence, Jessica Blanka (Scott) of Tonganoxie. Jennifer McAfee (Darrin) of Eudora, Hillary Dunaway (Trent) of Overland Park, and Heather Unrein of Shawnee; sister Marilyn Shivers (Bill) of Chicago, Illinois; eight grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lawrence Humane Society c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.