Diane Marie Klee

Diane Marie Anne Baldwin Klee, 67, of South Bend, IN, passed away in the comfort of her South Bend home on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. She was born in Kittery, Maine on November 24, 1954 to the late Robert and Beverly (Bohn) Baldwin. Diane is survived by her husband of 44 years, Rick. Also surviving are two sons, Richard (Kelly) Klee III of South Bend, and Daniel(Jennifer) Klee of Indianapolis, two daughters, Anne (Josh)Mahoney and Katherine Klee, both of Indianapolis, as well as nine grandchildren (Benedict, Jude, Marien, Sofia and Hannah Klee; Cecilia and Mia Mahoney; Kolbe and Leo Klee). She is also survived by three sisters Debra Baldwin (Fred Young), Denise Baldwin, and Denielle Baldwin Iwuoha, a half-brother, Daniel Baldwin, and many nieces and nephews. Diane was preceded in death by her parents as well as her sister, Deneen (Baldwin) Bozeman, and brother-in-law, Michael Iwuoha.

Diane grew up as the oldest of 5 girls in St Paul, MN until 6thgrade, when her Dad, a long-time FAA employee, accepted a transfer to Juneau (and later, Anchorage) Alaska. Diane always embraced her surroundings and made new friends wherever she went. After graduating from Robert Service High School in Anchorage, she received her Bachelor Degree in Religious Studies from St. Mary’s College in 1977 (and was subsequently able to enjoy having 3 of her sisters attend colleges in Indiana).As a senior at St. Mary’s, she met Rick Klee through the Notre Dame Chapel Choir, and after a 3-month whirlwind courtship they were engaged, and later married on May 19, 1978. 

She worked as Director of Religious Education for two years for St Vincent’s Parish in Elkhart, IN, before they moved to South Bend, where she taught Religion at St Joseph High School prior to the arrival of their first son. She was a stay-at-home mom for 14 years, and enjoyed being a member of the Sacred Heart Parish Mothers of Young Children group, while discovering a talent for selling (part-time) for World Book Encyclopedia. When the children were all in school, she returned to her love of teaching religion at the junior high level for Holy Cross School (teaching each of her 4 children) for 20 years, adding a course in introductory Spanish to her teaching repertoire as well over the years. Each winter for 14 years, she helped produce a top-notch school play, sharing her acting, singing and dramatic skills with a generation of young thespians. The time at Holy Cross was followed by 6 more years of teaching religion back at St. Joseph High School, retiring with the onset of Covid in June of 2020. The following school year brought a new adventure, with Diane (Theology) and Rick (Math) teaching their 5 local grandchildren, thus wrapping up 30 years of teaching for over 3,500 students! Diane had an endless thirst for knowledge, beginning with reading everything she could on child rearing and child healthcare, to later learning new computer softwareprograms to help her religion students, as well as investing 10 summers to earn her MA in Theology from Notre Dame in 2010.

Rick and Diane helped couples by leading marriage preparation for more than 20 years through both the University of Notre Dame and Holy Cross parish programs, and Diane served several stints on the Holy Cross School Board as well as several other Holy Cross Parish committees. She continued her music ministry by singing and playing the flute for various Holy Cross Choirs. 

She experienced great joy in her role as a grandmother. “Meem” or “Meemee” cherished her time with the grandkids, and was invested in each one of their lives!

The last dozen years brought Diane a chance to reengage with her passion for nature. She and Rick bought a small cabin in Howe, IN. Her children kidded her that the Cabin was her “5th child”, and she was never more at home than on South Twin Lake with family and friends, either at a cookout on her porch or as captain of her pontoon boat, sharing driving responsibilities with her beloved grandchildren (but never allowing Rick to drive).

She loved being active and was a talented athlete, finding ways keep going during the pandemic with frequent 3–5-mile walks, doing Jazzercise in the living room in front of the computer, or playing tennis whenever possible. Diane was a passionate baseball fan of the Minnesota Twins, and summer vacations often included a stop at a new major league ballpark with the family. Other loves included Notre Dame Athletics (especially Women’s basketball) and any and every one of her children’s or grandchildren’s activities. She cherished time with her friends, whether it was at Jazzercise, just a gathering with friends, or her monthly Book Club meeting!

Rick and Diane loved to travel with family and together, with fond memories of trips to Italy, Ireland, and two Viking Cruises, as well as special family time visiting her Dad and her sisters in Alaska, and several return trips to her Maine birthplace. In 2012, she completed her goal of visiting all 50 states! One of the bright moments in the 2+years of Covid was a very special family reunion in June, 2021 for all 18 immediate family members in Charlevoix, MI, where she was feted for her 30 years of teaching, as well as sharing our gratitude for her dedication toparenting and grandparenting!

She will be so missed!

Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 14 at Holy Cross Church, 1050 Wilber St, South Bend, from 4:00 until 8:00 pm with a rosary at 7:30pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 15 at 9:30am at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, IN. Interment will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame. Diane’s family offers sincere thanks to the kind and caring nurses of Elara Hospice, as well as the teams at Memorial Radiation Oncology and Michiana Hematology Oncology. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Women‘s Care Center (360 N. Notre Dame Avenue, South Bend, IN 46617) or Holy Cross School (1020 Wilber St. South Bend, IN 46628) in Diane’s honor. Online Condolences may be shared at www.kaniewski.com