Diana Rachuy

Diana Catherine (Wahl) Rachuy age 77 of Westbrook passed away Friday, October 15, 2010 at Sanford Westbrook Medical Center from cancer. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 19 at Grace Lutheran Church in Westbrook. 

Visitation will be Monday, 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Westbrook Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.  Interment is in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Rosehill Township.  In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.  The Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. 

Diana Catherine Wahl was born March 29, 1933 at Home Hospital in Slayton, Minnesota to Edward Jacob and Lillian Mathilda (Koskela) Wahl.  She was baptized May 14, 1933 by Pastor A. W. Scharfe and confirmed April 14, 1946 by Pastor A.J. Eisner at what is now Grace Lutheran Church.  Diana grew up on farms in the Westbrook area.  She attended country schools until March of second grade when she went to Westbrook School.  Diana graduated from Westbrook High School in 1951 as valedictorian.  She attended her freshman year at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.  The following summer she transferred to the University of Minnesota and graduated with high distinction in September 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.  Diana worked as a public health nurse in Rochester and Olmsted County until her marriage to Bud (Marvin Grant) Rachuy December 13, 1958.  They farmed south of Westbrook (Rosehill Township) and had five children: Adam Joel, Lydia, Ann Catherine, Hilja Marie, and Charmaine.  Diana worked part-time as a nurse at Westbrook Hospital until the birth of her first child.  She helped teach prenatal classes at the hospital as long as they delivered babies there.  Diana was a life-long member of Grace Lutheran Church, and was an active volunteer in a variety of church and community activities including the Clara Barton Club. 

Diana is survived by her husband Bud of 51 years; children: Adam (Becky) Rachuy of Hastings, Lydia (Darwin) Tilstra of Northfield, Ann (Michael) Tighe of Avon, Hilja (David) Nelsen of North Andover, MA, and Charmaine (Sandro) Braga of Brownsville, TX; grandchildren: Jacob, Andrew and Bryan Rachuy, Caleb (Nicole), Jayna, Micah and Elijah Tilstra, Abriana and Mariah Tighe, Isaiah and Tarja Nelsen, Gabriela, Natasha and Tatiana Braga; brother Calvin Wahl of Billings, MT; sisters-in-law Elffie Kopperud of Westbrook and Orpha (Ben) Emkes of Seymour, IN.  She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Avis Hoaglund, brother Bruce Wahl, and nephew Randy Wahl.