Diane M. Papke

Norfolk — Diane Mae Papke, 76, of Norfolk, formerly of Chambers, died Friday, Dec. 2, 2022 at the Norfolk Veteran's Home in Norfolk.

Military graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022 at the Stuart Community Cemetery in Stuart. Military honors will be provided by the Stuart American Legion, Post 115.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill is in charge of the arrangements.

Diane was born on Jan. 22, 1946 in Detroit, MI to Harold and Helen (Halomen) Eilola. She was the youngest of five children. While she was young, she moved with her family to Minneapolis and later to Washington, DC.  

After high school, Diane enlisted in the United States Navy. She was stationed in Chicago and then was honorably discharge from her post in San Diego. 

Diane married Thomas “Bob” Papke on Dec. 20, 1975 in North Chicago.  

After she was discharged in San Diego, she worked for several years for the DEA.  

In 1982, the couple moved to Bob's home town of Chambers. 

Diane drove a school bus for a time, and then worked for the Village of Chambers in the Clerk's office. She retired in the 1990s. 

Due to health reasons, she moved to the Norfolk Veterans home in 2013. 

Diane loved to knit and was very talented at it. She truly enjoyed many outings with the Veterans Home to restaurants and casinos. She always looked forward to playing bingo during the week and was a devoted watcher of soap operas and the Hallmark Channel.  

Diane was a very proud veteran and a member of the American Legion.

Diane is survived by her two children Thomas Papke II of Austin, Texas and Katherine Papke of Chambers, eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, two sisters-in-law Linda (Wayne) Green of Chambers and Denise Papke of Quincy, IL, and many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bob Papke in 2010, two sisters and husbands two brothers and wives and two brothers-in-law.