Diane Gleason, age 90, a resident of Wheaton, IL, passed away on Thursday, July 11, 2024. She was born July 24, 1933 in Geneva, IL to Norwegian parents, Palmer and Stella Paulson.

Diane grew up in St. Charles where she met her husband Roger Gleason. They married in 1953 when he was serving in the Air Force in Amarillo, Texas. Afterward, they moved to Wheaton, IL where they raised their family. She spent many summers with her children at Northside Park, swimming, ice skating, watching fireworks, and scouting activities. She also loved gardening, reading, sewing, and knitting.

Diane was proud of her many years employed at Vern Kiebler & Associates and continued to work part-time at G&G Pharmacy after retirement because she liked earning her own money! After retirement, she and Roger downsized and moved to Maple Hill in Warrenville where they met many new friends and greatly enjoyed living near the pool! Diane continued her love of gardening by taking care of the flowerpots around the pool.

As life provided great joys, there were also challenges. At age 51 Diane was diagnosed with adult-onset Type 1 diabetes, as was her father, but she continued to live a long and active life. She was a huge fan of former Cub, Ron Santo, also a diabetic, for his support of diabetes research and was thrilled to talk to him once at Wrigley Field as he went by on a golf cart.

Diane was blessed with grandchildren in Wheaton and Colorado. They traveled often to see their grandsons near the Rocky Mountains and were lucky to have granddaughters in Wheaton. While they are now all in their 20s and 30s she still regrets not being able to buy toys for holidays and birthdays.

She is survived by her three children, Sue (Mark) Gleason of Madison WI, Paul (Sara) Gleason of Colorado, and Laurie (Dave) King of Wheaton, six grandchildren, Megan, Melissa (Jake), Madeline (Kendall) and Hannah King and Adam and Joseph Gleason, great-granddaughter, Jade Rivera; her brother Dick (Louise) Paulson and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband Roger in 2022 just short of their 70th anniversary, and her parents.

A visitation will be held on Friday, July 19, 2024 from 10:30 to 11:30 at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton followed by a memorial service at 11:30 a.m.   Private interment will be at Glen Oak Cemetery in West Chicago.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the JDRF, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.