Obituary of Wilma Marie Diesen

Wilma Diesen of Grand Ledge, formerly of Midland, died July 3, 2024, at the age of 91. Born Wilma Marie Milliner in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, she was the second of four children. Until high school, she attended a one-room schoolhouse where her father Audra Milliner taught. Active in the 4-H, a local first place sewing prize earned her a trip to the State Fair in 1949, an experience formative to her self-confidence and independence.  A photo from that trip hung on her wall throughout her life.

She met Ron Diesen at Southern Illinois University in 1951. He sealed the deal by sending her 11 red roses on her birthday in April that year, marking the 11 weeks they’d been dating. They married in September, dancing to “Stardust” then and for the next 66 years. After Ron received his PhD, they moved to Midland, Michigan with their infant son Tom, where Ron began his career as a research scientist at Dow Chemical. Daughters Ann and Debbie followed. As the kids grew, Willie and Ron took their family on annual trips to southern Illinois to see family; to Lake Michigamme in the upper peninsula; and on numerous camping trips to places like the Grand Canyon. They were loving, imperfect, extraordinary parents, who taught by example how to work hard, love one another, learn from mistakes, and find humor in hard moments (even if it takes a few years).

Devoted to her family, Wilma was also dedicated to community involvement. She was active in the League of Women Voters, and in 1973 became the first woman ever elected to the Midland City Council. In 1984, she went to work at the Grace A. Dow Library, where she worked until 1995.  She had an avid interest in family genealogy, and she and some of her genealogy colleagues, aka The Bones Ladies, traveled together to do research and became lifelong friends. In addition to genealogy, in her spare time Wilma loved crossword puzzles, making sourdough bread, and reading mystery novels.

After Ron’s death in 2018, Wilma moved to Independence Village in Midland. In 2023 Wilma moved closer to her daughters. During her 14 months at Independence Village in Grand Ledge, her smile and good heart were contagious, and her daily walks to the fishtank in the center of the building enabled her to not only check on the fish but also to visit with her friends along the way.

Wilma was preceded in death by her infant son, Dan Diesen; her parents, Audra and Freedia Milliner; her brother, Malcolm Milliner; her sister, Stella Kozanecki; and her husband, Ron Diesen. Wilma is survived by her son, Tom (Nga) Diesen; daughters, Ann (Brian) Fillingham and Deborah Diesen; grandchildren, Erin (Mark) Heller, Jacob Fillingham, Mason Miller, and Isaac Miller; and brother, Sidney (Darla) Milliner.

Wilma’s family extends its gratitude and appreciation to the CorsoCare Hospice staff; to the amazing, kind, dedicated Laurus Home Care team; and to the unsung daily heroes in housekeeping, food service, and other roles at Independence Village. Your kindness and compassion for our mother will live on in our hearts forever.

A celebration of life is planned for 3:00 p.m., Sunday, August 4, 2024 at the United Church of Christ, 4100 Chestnut Hill Drive, Midland, Michigan, where Wilma had the privilege of being the last surviving charter member. To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com  Arrangements made with the Cremation Society of Mid Michigan.