Diane M. Embree

The love of my life and my best friend, Diane (Mantor) Embree, left the circles of this world on March 1, 2021, at age 69, to the loving embrace of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  As her husband of 35 years, I want to write a somewhat nontraditional obituary to tell a bit of her story and to honor all that she has meant to me.  Diane made me human, and she will always be my forever love.

Diane grew up in Antigo, Wisconsin, the third of six siblings, four boys and two girls.  She graduated from Northcentral Technical College and moved to Wausau, where we met at a Bible study.  We were married in 1985, in what residents of Sheboygan still refer to with awe as “THE wedding”.

My thoughts are turning to a time very early in our relationship, when I first visited Diane’s little apartment. I was awestruck by how beautiful she had made it, with cross-stitch projects and the like, and I remember thinking, “I want this woman in my life”. I think of the woman whose eyes looked so beautiful to me as we sat by the shore of Lake Michigan and watched the ore boat come in, the woman who used to walk down the hill to the place where I was then working to show me what she had bought at the mall, the woman who has cherished cats all her life and helped so many of them, the woman with whom I shared the “Niagara Avenue love nest” when we were newlyweds, the woman who went to annual craft fairs with me. I love her so much.

Diane was always such a generous person.  I remember how, each year, we would visit the "giving tree" in the mall and buy a present for one child. We love cats, so one year, a child wanted a "Littlest Pet Shop" set and it was a real joy to purchase that.  I remember how she would encourage me to make a donation to the humane society each year, including cat treats, cat toys, cat blankets, and so forth.  I remember how she would buy and deliver designer gifts for her brother, including a "Packer package" featuring a miniature Packer-themed Christmas trailer.  I remember how she would laboriously make craft projects -- ornate cross-stitch pictures, or complex knitted afghans -- for friends and relatives.  I remember how she would make up to ten tins of special fancy cookies for my colleagues at the university each Christmas.  I remember how, when a friend adopted a kitten, she put together a "kitty starter pack" for her.

Diane was predeceased by her parents, George and Gladys Mantor; her sister, Joan (Benkusky); and her brothers Jim and Tom.  She is survived by me, her husband Marlowe, and her brothers Rick and Jerry.  In lieu of an in-person memorial service at this time, a video tribute is being arranged through Peterson-Kraemer Funeral Home.  Diane’s earthly remains will be interred at Restlawn Memorial Park.  In honor of Diane’s deep love of cats, donations in her name to New Life Pet Adoption Center in Marathon would be greatly appreciated.  Right now, I believe, she is petting her beloved Boots (pictured), who went to Rainbow Bridge ten years ago.

I know that from Heaven, Diane is looking down on me, sending me her love and encouragement, praying for me. Our love song was "Someone to Watch Over Me". I tried to be that for her for 35 years. She can be that for me now. I will try to be the best man I can possibly be, and to live every day in her honor. She was God's greatest earthly gift to me. One day, she and I will shine like the sun in the kingdom of the Father, and we will never again be parted. Until then, my dearest love, wait for me.  “Blessed are those who die in the Lord from henceforth, and their works do follow them” (Rev. 14:13)