Diane Marie Bockelman

Diane Marie Bockelman, 66, of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, passed away peacefully with both of her brothers and sisters-in-law by her side on Saturday August 27, 2022.

Diane was born April 29, 1956 at Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska to Mel and Harriet Bockelman. She was profoundly developmentally delayed with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome from birth. Though most children of that time with her syndrome rarely survived childhood, she continued to thrive even through numerous medical difficulties, with the love, support, and devotion of her mother and father.

Diane played a central role in the family. Although not expected to ever walk, her parents persisted in exercising and stretching her leg muscles amid much difficulty to her and to them. She eventually learned to walk. Diane never could dress or feed herself, and required constant supervision and care, which during her childhood years fell primarily to her mother.

Life threatening medical problems and requirements for close supervision eventually led to her living at Bethesda Lutheran Home in Watertown, Wisconsin during her teen and young adult years. The church supported home provided loving and caring staff. Eventually she came to reside, first in a community Bethesda Home in Lenexa, Kansas and subsequently at Marty House of Good Life Innovations, together, for the last 17 years of her life, where she was able to live near her brothers and parents. The staff at Good Life joined with her family to value and love Diane and her sweet disposition.

Diane is preceded in death by her mother, Harriet Bockelman, with whom she is now reunited and having a grand celebration, and grandniece Skylar Foster. She is survived by her father, Mel Bockelman, two brothers, Mel Jr. and wife Rebecca Reece; and Ron Bockelman and wife Becky Bockelman; 6 nieces and nephews, Katy, Beth, Luke, Joel, Dave, and Amy; and fourteen great nieces and nephews.

She also has friends among the staffs and residents of Good Life Innovations and Bethesda Lutheran Home. Special friends who regularly visited her for years include Bonnie, Bunnie, and Irene.

On Saturday, September 10, 2022 at Hillcrest Covenant Church 8701 Nall Avenue Prairie Village, Kansas, Visitation will occur from 10-10:30am; Memorial Service at 10:30am followed by lunch at 11:30am. A graveside service at 2:30pm will be held at Flora Cemetery (St Peter's Cemetery) north of Concordia, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Good Life Innovations or to The Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Foundation.

Diane profoundly impacted our lives. She showed us that all people are created in the image of God and deeply loved by Him. We love you, Diane. We miss your smile.

Diane's services will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click here to view the service.




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