DIANNE AHLERS

January 19, 1949– March 14, 2026

Dianne Ahlers, of Indianola, IA, passed away peacefully Saturday, March 14, 2026 in the loving care of the staff at Story Point Senior Living Facility in Urbandale, IA, with her family by her side.

Dianne was born January 19, 1949 in Laurens, IA. Her parents, Roland and Dorothy Nordund, raised five children, James, Dianne, Shari, Randy and Julie Beth on the family farm outside Albert City, IA. Both of her parents worked full time jobs on top of farming. Dianne helped with the housework and farm chores. In her free time, she enjoyed riding her bike to the swimming pool in Albert City. Summers were spent detasseling corn with her best friend, “Wilson” and weeding the bean fields. She especially looked forward to family vacations at Fillenwarth Resort at Okoboji Lake. She loved music and dancing and would often go to The Roof Garden in Arnolds Park, The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake or The Cobblestone in Storm Lake.

In 1968, she and Mike met in Laurens. They liked each other enough to continue dating and were married on December 14, 1968. They were blessed with two children, Jami and Chad. They moved a lot the first two years; Lake Ozark, MO, Joplin, MO, Ottumwa, IA and Chicago, IL, before settling in Indianola in 1974.

Dianne was a stay-at-home mom until Jami and Chad started elementary school. She became a teacher aide at Irving Elementary School. She volunteered many hours as a Girl Scout leader, youth softball coach and counseling a couple troubled and at-risk young girls. She later was the proof reader at the Indianola Record Herald.

From 1977-1981, she helped with pilot registration for The National Hot Air Balloon Championship held at Simpson College in Indianola. She was named Events Chairperson in 1982. She then worked for Central Life Insurance Company in Des Moines, working with agents setting up new client policies. Dianne continued in insurance as an underwriter with AmerUs Life and Aviva until she retired in 2014.

She loved her backyard flower garden, fishing trips with Mike and the many sporting events and activities of her children and grandchildren.

Dianne is survived by her husband, Mike; daughter, Jami Johnson (Joseph Johnson Jr); grandchildren, Joseph Johnson III, Myranda (Johnson) Lewis (Peter); great-grandchildren, Bianca and Freya; puppy, Rizzo; siblings, James Nordlund, Shari Hawk, Julie Gramenz (Craig). She is proceeded in death by her son, Chad; parents; brother, Randy; and grand puppy, Herky.

A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, March 27, 2026 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola. In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Dianne may be given to Hospice of the Midwest or Helping Hand Food Pantry.