Obituary

On January 23, 2022, Diane L. Sheets was reunited with her husband, Gary T. Sheets, Sr., who had passed away in August of 1977. Together, at last, they are celebrating the afterlife with her parents, Louise and Ellsworth “Pitsy” Schulte, son Marty, sister Beverly Richards, her in-laws Paul and Bertha Sheets, fur-child Rascal, and her dearest friends Emma Schwenneker and Marcy Jackson. 

Together they are sharing stories and laughs while keeping watch over the family: her oldest son, Mark, his long-time companion Beth, and his children Markie and Jessica and their children; her youngest son, Gary “Tom”, his wife Michele and their children, Samantha, Burke, and Johanna; her oldest grandchild, Adele Leia, brothers-in-law (David Richards and Ronnie Sheets) and several nephews and nieces.  The family will miss Diane greatly, but take comfort knowing that her pain has come to an end.

Diane loved people and cooking, which made her the ideal “Lunch Lady”. Beginning in 1972, she worked in both the New Brighton Area High and Elementary Schools as a cafeteria worker. Over her 35 years of service, she made thousands of kids and faculty happy as she served them a meal or snack with a smile on her face and a kind word for each of them.

As a means of celebrating Diane’s life, the family is requesting donations to the foundations she supported for many years, the National Kidney Foundation or St. Jude’s Children's Research Hospital.

The GABAUER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 1133 Penn Ave., New Brighton, www.gabauerfamilyfuneralhomes.com is honored to be assisting Diane’s family during this time.