Diane Ouellette

Diane Raye Ouellette died March 31, 2024, at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka.

Visitation was from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 7, 2024, at Ward Funeral Home in Washington. The family received friends from 4 to 6 p.m.

A funeral service was 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 8, at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Washington with Father David Metz officiating. Sheila Ouellette was organist and the congregation sang” Be Not Afraid,” “How Great Thou Art,” “One Bread One Body” and “On Eagles Wings.” A recording of “Amazing Grace was played.

Burial was in Washington City Cemetery.

She was born on Nov. 22, 1945, in Horton, to Roy and Delores Jean (Soder) Shelley. She graduated from Fairbury High School, Fairbury, Neb., in 1963.

She married Larry Ouellette on March 19, 1971, in Fairbury. Together they raised seven children: Robin, Denise, Donna, Nicole, Heather, Fallon and Quentin.

She dedicated her life to the food service industry as an owner and operator of the Longhorn and later the Swirly Top. She later became a cook at the Washington County Hospital for 17 years, retiring Dec. 31, 2023.

Preceeding her in death were her parents; infant grandson Jase Gepner; and infant great-granddaughter Kyree Jo Tiemeyer.

Survivors include her children Robin (Scott) Sawin, Denise (Richard) Powell, Nicole Ouellette, Heather (Eric) Gepner and Fallon (Jeremy) Craig, all of Washington; and Donna (Clint) Eubanks and Quentin Ouellette, both of Topeka; grandchildren Brandi Cole, Jamie Tiemeyer, Taylor Miller, Thad and Amanda Powell, Kaden and Adyson Ping, Josephine Eubanks, Cheyanne, Dakota and Kealey Helms; Konner, Macie, Camden and Barrett Gepner; Grayson and Ashtyn Votipka, Daniel, Racheal and Ruth Craig; great-grandchildren Carter and Collin Cole, Henley, Emory and Charlie Tiemeyer, Kalen and Taytum Miller, Peyton Powell and Lane Brees; brother Roy Shelley, Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Washington County News • April 11, 2024