Diane Ward-Zuelke's Obituary
Diane Ward Zuelke, 80 years old, died on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at her home in Tulsa, OK. Family surrounded her as she quietly passed through the narrow gates of heaven into Christ’s arms. Diane was born in Salt Lake City, the youngest of five – one brother and four sisters. She loved to travel with friends and spent the later part of her life traveling the country with two RV Clubs where she built long lasting and deep friendships. She was a fabulous mother to three rambunctious, hardheaded boys. When she wasn’t chasing them around the house or cleaning up after them she was spending countless hours at football games, baseball fields and the side of a wrestling mat cheering loudly for the Ward boys. While living in Tulsa in 1954 with her sister Betti she met Jim Ward and were married a year later in Salt Lake City at her sister Marjorie’s home. They lived in Albuquerque, NM and began raising a family and worked at Sandia Labs with an Atomic Energy Commission “Q” clearance during the cold war. In the early 1960’s they moved to Tulsa to be near Jim’s sisters, they were married 27 years until his death in 1982. Several years later she met Ron Zuelke while working for a refinery pump manufacturer. In 1993 they eloped and were married at Lavern’s Wedding Chapel in Miami, OK. One month after remarrying, Diane suffered a devastating loss – the sudden death of her oldest son Mike. As any parent can understand the deep pain and confusion of losing a child, at any age, was extremely painful and difficult. With the help of her family and friends, especially Ron, she eventually healed from the loss. Ron introduced her to the world of RV traveling and they spent their free time traveling coast to coast and border to border visiting family and making friends. Her surviving family members are numerous, but mainly include: Husband of 21 years: Ron Zuelke Mother of 2 children and their wives: Kim and Sean Ward, Lora and Danny Ward Grandmother to Kyle, Kacie, Carson and Graeme Great Grandmother to Alaina Immediate Family: Daughter in law Robbie Ward. Nieces Leigh Powell, Peggy Wolfley, Karen Hewitt, Vicki Short, Shari Lords. Nephews Gordy Lords and Bill Gordon
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