Mary Diane Streitz

Mary Diane Warner Streitz, 95, of Woodbury, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on March 23, 2025. Her last days were spent surrounded by her children at St. Therese of Woodbury, where she lived since 2017.

Born on April 18, 1929, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Diane grew up the third of six children in the loving home of Irving and Constance (Rasmussen) Warner. She graduated from Northern South Dakota State University in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Demonstrating her independent spirit, she immediately moved to California to begin her teaching career. Longing to return to the Midwest, she moved to Minnesota where she met and married US Army 1st Lieutenant James P. Streitz of Minneapolis, Minnesota. They began their married life in San Antonio, Texas, where Jim was stationed.

When Jim’s service ended in 1956, Jim and Diane returned to Minnesota to be near family. In 1970, they moved with their five children to Danville, Illinois, where Diane was a devoted wife and busy mother, a beloved and active member of her parish, St. Paul Catholic Church, and an enthusiastic fan of the Schlarman Hilltoppers sports teams.

Jim died unexpectedly in 1980, and Diane began another chapter of her life. She returned to teaching, first in the Danville Public School system, then at St. Paul Catholic School, where she would eventually assume the position of Coordinator of Religious Education. Diane always considered Danville as home, where all her children graduated from high school, where her husband is buried, the place where her family put down roots.

Over 20 years after Jim’s passing, Diane reconnected with an old college friend from Aberdeen, Ken Wight. They married in 2003 and moved to the Phoenix area where they lived until 2017.

Diane always cherished her family. Many of her grandchildren got to spend a week with her at “Camp Grammy”, painting birdhouses and helping out in the garden. She took every opportunity to attend reunions in South Dakota, Arizona, California, and Minnesota - and to host them in Illinois. Diane loved to travel abroad, venturing to England, Italy and Israel. She was much sought after as a bridge partner, and also loved music, gardening, crossword puzzles, sports and Jeopardy.

The final 10 years of her life, Diane lived gracefully with dementia. Despite her memory difficulties, she remained eternally optimistic, often commenting how beautiful everyday things were. She had a very full, long life and will be dearly missed by family and friends.

Diane is survived by her sisters: Connie Kenyon of Benson, Minnesota, and Ann (Dick) Rollins of Arvada, Colorado; by her children: Suzanne Streitz, of Galien, Michigan; Steven (Kathy) Streitz, of Hudson, Wisconsin; Gretchen (Buz) Ziegler, of Dallas, Texas; and Teresa (Bill) O’Brien, of Glen Ellyn, Illinois; by her grandchildren: Jason, Kaitlin, Emily, Maddie, Will, Sam, Suzanne, Annie, Madeline, and Ellie; and by her great-grandchildren: Addie, Etta, Hadley, Ella, Sofie, Olivia, Cora, Margo, Chloe, and Liam.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James P. Streitz, by her daughter, Katie Reid, and by other family members.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 11, 2025 at 11:00 am at St. Paul Catholic Church, 1303 N Walnut Street, Danville, Illinois 61832. Father Narcis Katambe will officiate. Inurnment will be in Resurrection Cemetery in Danville, IL.

Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Danville, Illinois, 3940 N Vermilion St. Danville, IL 61834 is assisting the family with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Diane’s memory may be made to Schlarman Academy at https://schlarmanacademy.salsalabs.org/generaldonationform/index.html or mailed to Schlarman Academy 2112 N Vermilion St., Danville, IL 61832.

Please join Diane’s family in sharing memories, photos and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com .