Memorial
Diane Marie (Tigges) Koehnk passed away on January 18th, 2026. Diane was born October 12,1959 to Edna and Ray Tigges in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and grew up with her siblings Carolyn, David, and Allan. A member of her mother’s Girl Scout troupe, Diane was an active and thoughtful child.
Diane attended the University of Iowa (Go Hawks!), where she met Scott, the man she would later marry and spend the rest of her days with. Diane’s group of college friends bonded over the joy of life’s absurdities, exemplified best perhaps by their creative Halloween costumes, including “the three little pigs,” “the two-man tent,” and “asbestos” - yes, that’s correct. Diane, the asbestos, spent the night throwing fluff at her friends while Scott stood by her side in a hazmat suit.
Graduating with a master's degree in education, Diane began her thirty-year career as a lead teacher in special-education preschool classrooms, where she provided a space of support, learning, and always fun for children with needs that were not met in standard classrooms. She was a favorite amongst her students, their parents, and her coworkers alike.
After the birth of her first daughter, Anna, the family moved to a tight-knit neighborhood in Key Biscayne, Florida where they quickly made connections with fellow parents. Their youngest daughter, Mary, was born soon after. Diane’s immense love for her two girls was ever present, and Diane and Scott remained busy raising their kids surrounded by friends and family.
After their girls went to college, Diane and Scott began their wanderlust adventure, calling several beautiful places home, including St. Croix (USVI), the Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone National Park. Scott, always by her side, supported her dream by agreeing to hit the road and live out of a camper. Armed with her well-annotated road atlas, the two explored, hiked, and made campfire meals and cocktails in all 50 states, visiting 43 National Parks. She made sure to see the rest of the world too, exploring 24 countries across 6 continents.
In her final years, Diane remained as active as ever, spending her days learning about local history, biking, hiking, and of course, making many friends along the way. Diane’s life was colored with many experiences and chapters. What remained constant, however, was her effortless ability to foster connections, old and new, with the places she spent time in and the people she loved. She will be missed fiercely by many, but the memory of her adventurous spirit will undoubtedly live on.
To celebrate Diane’s memory, we will be holding a memorial mass at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on June 13th, 2026, at 10:00 AM. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. All are welcome.
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