DIANE JOYCE WETTER

Palmer resident Diane J. Wetter, 61, died at home Nov. 13, 2003, after battling breast cancer for four years. Present at her passing were Lew, her husband of 28 years, and hospice personnel.

A celebration of her life will be held for Mrs. Wetter Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. at the Palmer Senior Citizen's Center, 831 S. Chugach St. in Palmer. Her ashes will be sent to friends and family members for private ceremonies.

Mrs. Wetter was born July 31, 1942, in Lancaster, Wis.

She graduated from Platteville High School in 1960.

Mrs. Wetter was employed in a variety of jobs including sales, office management and transportation.

Mr. and Mrs. Wetter were married May 31, 1975, at St. Paul's Church in Liberty Ridge, Wis.

In 1980 they moved to Fort Collins, Colo., where she worked as an office manager and Lew drove a truck in long-haul operation. In 1984 she decided to join her husband as a driver. She enjoyed driving trucks, working with Lew in a team operation throughout the Lower 48 and Canada, until health concerns forced her to retire from driving. They moved to Alaska in 1992, living in Anchorage until they moved to Palmer in 1994, where she exercised her skills at home decoration.

She enjoyed the aspects of homemaking, especially home interior design, gardening, flowers, and her lifelong passion with crochet, producing examples which will be treasured by those who received them as presents.

Never blessed with children of their own, the couple took great pride in the accomplishments of their extended family.

Her family wrote, "In early 2003, the advancement of the cancer made it obvious she wasn't going to beat this disease. She accepted it with typical mindset. She decided it was an opportunity to thank everyone who worked so hard with her to beat the cancer."

Mrs. Wetter is survived by her husband Lew; her mother and step-father Arlene and Milton Brogley of Platteville, Wis.; her father and step-mother Clarence and Vivian Pendleton of Milwaukee, Wis.; sister and brother-in-law Juanita and Norm Drew of Platteville, step-sister and brother-in-law Jane and Kevin Leighty of Platteville; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Marilyn and Donald Keller; brother-in-law Greg Wetter; eight nieces and nephews and 12 grand-nieces and nephews.

A memorial fund has been established in her name with proceeds going to Hospice of Mat-Su at Mat-Valley Federal Credit Union, (Donation), 1020 S. Bailey St., Palmer, Alaska 99645.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home & Crematory in Wasilla.