Diane Wiggins – KWBG Radio

AMES, Iowa—Diane Marie Wiggins, 82, of Ames, passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at Maggie’s Place, Ames.

Diane was born on July 23, 1943 in Poplar, Montana, to Selmer and Nora (Lemieux) Lotvedt.

Diane grew up in Poplar and graduated from Poplar High School in 1962. After graduation, she moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to live with a relative and to babysit.

From there, Diane moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she lived in a house with five other girls. It was at the CC Club, in Minneapolis, that she met Gary Wiggins, and the two were wed on February 1, 1969. The couple continued to live in Minneapolis until moving to Des Moines. While in Des Moines, Diane and Gary met their life-long friends, Larry and Janel Ketelsen. In 1970, their son, Matt, was born.

In 1972, Diane and Gary moved to Ames. Diane began to work part time as a Lab Technician for Material and Science Engineering at Iowa State. In 1975, their daughter, Janine, was born. Diane began her work as a homemaker. She also worked as a library assistant, for about 8 years, at Iowa State, until her retirement in 2002.

Diane was a member of the Women’s Renew Group and the Red Hat Ladies.

Diane loved animals. She always had to have a cat in the house. Diane also enjoyed feeding birds and squirrels, even raising a squirrel.

Diane also loved sewing, knitting, crocheting, and cross stitching. She enjoyed sewing pillowcase dresses for Little Dresses for Africa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 51 years, Gary Wiggins; brother, N. Charles Lotvedt; and sister, Julie Darnell.

Diane is survived by her children, Matt Wiggins of Boone and Janine (Daryl) Tellinghuisen of Ames; three step-granddaughters, Ashley (TJ) Wong, Alexis (Alex) Monaghan, and Natasha Tellinghuisen; one great-grandson, Kai Wong; and six nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life for both Gary and Diane will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel, 1006 6th Street, Boone. A private inurnment will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be made out to the Ames Animal Shelter, 325 Billy Sunday Road, Ames.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Online condolences may be left to Diane’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com.