Diane Wintz

Rockwell City - Diane Wintz 69, passed away Sunday, April 25, 2021 at Spurgeon Manor, Dallas Center. Memorial Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 1, 2021 at St. Francis Catholic Church, Rockwell City with Fr. Lawrence L. McCarty officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be at Elkhorn Township Cemetery, near Moorland. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. Saturday, May 1, at the Church until service time. Masks are required. The Funeral Mass will be live streamed on the Palmer & Swank Funeral Home Facebook page. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family. Palmer & Swank Funeral Home, Rockwell City is serving the family. Diane Kay Wintz (Stanek) was born July 29, 1951, in Waverly, IA. She grew up in Allison, Iowa, and graduated from Allison-Bristow High School in 1969. In 1973, she graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, with a double major in Music and Physical Education. That fall, she met and was united in marriage to Donald Wintz in Mason City and three children born with the union. Diane taught music for 3 years with CAL Community Schools in Latimer. In 1976, Don and Diane moved to Rockwell City where Diane taught Elementary Music and K-8 Music for 28 years in the Rockwell City/Lytton School Districts. Diane retired in 2009 to care for her beloved husband. Diane was active in the community with piano lessons, Cub Scout and Blue Bird leadership, playing the piano and organ at church, leading the church youth choir, and accompanying soloists and groups for the junior high and high school choirs. In the Allison area, Diane was a 6-on-6 basketball legend leading Allison-Bristow High School to the state tournament three out of four years. In 1969 (her senior year), Diane was named to the all-tournament team, scoring 58 points in the semi-final state tournament game and eliminating the #1 ranked team (Union Whitten). In college, Diane enjoyed teaching with the School of the Blind and taking a European band trip. In the Rockwell City community, Diane was known as "the best music teacher ever." She had a passion for music and her piano playing skills were second to none. Dianes music concerts were a production and something she took great pride in. Although sports and music were important to Diane, her true love was spending time with her family at their cabin on Twin Lakes and taking vacations. She loved her husband, kids, and grandkids with her whole heart and talked about them often. One of her greatest joys was watching her children and grandchildren at their sporting events and activities. Diane was the rock of the Wintz family, caring and standing faithfully by Don's side during his courageous battle with cancer. Diane could light up a room with her smile, even after a steady decline with dementia the last five years of her life. Diane is survived by her children, Matthew (Shannon) Wintz of Kalamazoo, MI, and Angie (David) Jesse of Granger, IA; five grandchildren, Carter Wintz (18), Benjamin Jesse (16), Bryan Jesse (14), Karis Wintz (13), and Jill Jesse (12); two younger brothers, Dennis (Julie) Stanek of Denver, IA, and Randy (Deb) Stanek of Manchester, IA; other relatives and a host of friends. She is proceeded in death by her husband Don, daughter Jennifer, and her parents, Lawrence and Norma Stanek. Diane was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, teacher, and friend, and will be missed by all who were lucky enough to have known her. Keep the music playing! SERVICES Memorial Services 10:30 a.m. - Saturday May 1, 2021 St. Francis Catholic Church Rockwell City, Iowa *Masks are required OFFICIATING Father Lawrence L. McCarty VISITATION 9:00 a.m. - Saturday May 1, 2021 St. Francis Catholic Church Rockwell City, Iowa MUSIC Organist: Fran Lawson Cantor: Lisa Wozniak INTERMENT Elkhorn Township Cemetery near Moorland, Iowa