Obituary of Diana Breitenfield

Diana Breitenfield, 73, was called to her heavenly home on December 24, 2020, after suffering gracefully for many years from Alzheimer’s disease. Her devotion to her family and her firm belief in God supported her in her struggle and ultimately gave her peace. Diana was born to Warren and Mildred (Newman) Archibald in Elkhorn, Wisconsin on May 26, 1947. After completing high school, she attended LaCrosse State University where she met the love of her life, Richard, at a college dance. She graduated with a degree in physical education and worked as a PE teacher for several years before marrying Richard in 1969 and starting her family in 1974. She raised two daughters with patience, discipline, and humility. Diana taught her daughters the importance of faith, family, education, responsibility, and hard work. From the very beginning, she dedicated her children to God and encouraged them to explore the beauty of a Christian life. Diana was an extremely involved and supportive mother. She never complained about the miles and miles of driving her daughters to their volleyball practices and games. She flew around the country and spent countless hours watching them play and cheering them on from the stands. She hosted elaborate team dinners in her home and welcomed their teammates as if they were her own daughters. You couldn’t find a bigger fan than her. Before good nutrition and exercise were popular, Diana was modeling a healthy lifestyle for her family and friends. She enjoyed running, hiking, and aerobics in her 30s and 40s and then learned to play tennis in her 50s! When Richard took up sailing in the 1990s, Diana became his devoted first mate and quickly learned “the ropes” of boating. She had endless energy and was always up for anything. After the untimely loss of her husband to cancer, Diana left her home of 30 years in Indiana and moved to Texas to immerse herself in the love and comfort of her grandchildren. She was an incredible grandmother to her two granddaughters and three grandsons. Whether it was playing dolls or action figures, Diana could usually be found down on the floor completely engaged in creative play and it was always hard to tell who was having more fun, the children or her! Diana loved to help anyone and everyone. When she wasn’t spending time with family and friends, she was making time to volunteer for various organizations, such as the Ball Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Psi Iota Xi charitable organization , various meal centers, and the churches where she was a member over the years, Grace Lutheran Church in Indiana and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Texas. She never took her life for granted and was always looking for ways to give back. Even during her final years at her assisted living facility, she was known for being a great helper. Diana is dearly missed by her loved ones, who celebrate the fact that she is at peace with her creator. Diana is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Angie and Andy Platt of Texas and her daughter and son-in-law Katie and Kevin Washburn of Maine, as well as her five grandchildren Ivy, Rex, Faye, Wesley, and Amos. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law Betty and Richard Piatkowski. She is preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, Richard Breitenfield.