Diane Virginia (Heger) Kvamme was born Dec. 2, 1934, in Virginia, MN, the daughter of Theodore and Dorothy (Johnson) Heger. Diane passed away peacefully at Aase Haugen Homes May 12, 2017.
She graduated from Ann Arbor High School in Ann Arbor, MI in 1952. She attended the University of Michigan and received her B.A. in music in 1957 and elementary teaching certificate in 1958. She went on to Eastern Michigan University and received her M.A. in elementary education. She was an assistant at Trinity Lutheran in Ann Arbor from 1949-1960. She taught at Livonia Public Schools in Michigan from 1958-1969, with sabbatical leave to study early education in Europe.
Diane was United in marriage to Kristen Hans Kvamme on June 28, 1969 in Ann Arbor, MI. To this union three children were born: Kulla Grace, Rolf Theodore, and Thea JoHanna.
She played the organ at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Livonia, MI and taught at Fraser Public Schools in Fraser, MI from 1969-1970. From 1971-72 she was a teacher aide and substitute in St. Columbkille in Dubuque,IA; then becoming a teacher there from 1972-73. From 1975-1985 she was the organist at Shelly-Marsh River Lutheran Church in Shelly, MN. This is where she created “The Church Mouse”, which was an article in the newsletter that she would write. From 1986-1999 she was the organist at Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah, IA; also writing a segment for their newsletter, “The Church Mouse”. From 1999-2006 she was organist at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah, IA. She also was a subbing organist at Aase Haugen Homes, where she later resided.
Survivors include her three children: Kulla (Clare) Mincks of Decorah, IA; Rolf (Lucy) Kvamme of Scottsdale, AZ; and Thea (Kevin) Gerleman of Mabel, MN. 12 grandchildren, 2 great grandsons; 1 brother Ted (Avis) Heger of Holland, MI; one brother in law John (Rosemary) Kvamme of Dearborne Heights, MI.
She was preceded in death by her husband Kristen (2007); her parents; a brother in law, Ken Kvamme; and a sister in law, Elaine Jennings.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Good Shepherd is fully accessible to all. 