Diane (Lynn) Barrett Rahn passed away on Saturday, January 19th, 2019 in Minneapolis, MN, three and a half weeks before her 60th birthday. Diane was born in Minneapolis, MN on February 5th, 1959 as the fourth of five children to Angeline and Howard Barrett. She graduated from Wayzata High School in 1977, a few years ahead of her favorite husband. Diane met Darrell Rahn while working at Latuff’s Pizzeria, and (Darrell's version: immediately fell for the burly and handsome) (Diane's version: barely noticed the scrawny and nerdy dishwasher). After a few years, Diane realized that they were dating, and they were married on May 4th, 1991.

Almost immediately after their wedding, Darrell whisked Diane away from her huge close-knit family and they moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where Darrell taught for Teach for America. Their first daughter, Mekinna Lee Rahn was born on April 2nd, 1993. They moved back to Minnesota shortly afterwards to raise their family, and their second daughter, Kira Lynn Rahn was born on May 1st, 1995.

In the summer of 2000, the family of four moved to Würzburg, Germany as the beginning of their journey with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS). Diane’s one stipulation for living overseas was that they spend every summer in Minnesota with family, so a strong connection to family was always maintained. However, Diane succeeded in creating a “family” in every community that they lived in overseas; Würzburg, Germany (2000-2006), Yokota, Japan (2006-2008) and Kaiserslautern, Germany (2008-2018).

Diane was a woman of many talents. She worked as a seamstress, waitress, cosmetologist, school bus driver, bank teller, cosmetology teacher, substitute teacher, and special education para-professional. Diane used all of these skills throughout her whole life, whether it was sewing costumes for school plays, or cutting hair for many friends. She was always dedicated to the children with whom she worked. As a school bus driver, Diane was known to stay up too late using her emerging computer skills to create word games designed to keep energetic students busy in their seats. While working as a paraprofessional she was asked to help with high school algebra, not her favorite subject. To ensure her ability to help her students she worked every assignment at home, often asking her daughters for clarification.  Another year of daily homework accompanied her promotion to geometry. Diane was very creative; in an effort to keep one student motivated, she cut up a chapter book and only allowed the student to have the next chapter after successfully completing her math homework.

A lover of rocks, wood, Polish Pottery, dragonflies, flea markets, and purple, Diane died too early. She considered her life to be full and her experiences more than a life-time’s worth. Diane was so grateful for all of the people in her life, and felt blessed to have been to so many places while travelling with her favorite husband and favorite daughters.

In 2016, Diane was diagnosed with melanoma. Although there is no cure for such a horrid cancer, she made life changing efforts in order to keep it at bay. However, in 2018 her cancer resurfaced. She was diagnosed with stage four melanoma that had metastasized in her liver. Diane spent the last six months of her life living with each of her siblings and their spouses; Lee, Missy, Mary and Larry, and Dan and Bridget. She was surrounded by the love of many friends and extended family members from near and far as well.   

Diane had a giant heart, and made a positive impact on everyone she met. She will always be remembered for her wonderful cooking, dedication to her students, big smile, huge hugs, cackling laughter, and the way she sang your name in greeting.

Published on January 23, 2019