Dianne E (Buck) Engel

Dianne E. Engel, 76, of Saint Marys, died 10:24 P.M. Friday, October 10, 2025, at Lima Memorial Hospital, after a sudden illness.

She was born May 4, 1949, in Lima, the daughter of Ralph and Ilene (Klosterman) Buck.

She married Dale Engel on July 25, 1970, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Saint Marys; he survives in Saint Marys.

She is also survived by her siblings: Joan Buck of Union City, Indiana; Mary (Mike) Zwiebel of Saint Marys; Ron (Cathy) Buck of Saint Marys; Karen (Greg) Muhlenkamp of Saint Marys; Connie (Denny) Lauth of Saint Marys. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews and by her brother-in-law, Ned Engel of Saint Marys; her sister-in-law, Shirley Ruwoldt of Wapakoneta.

She was preceded in death by her parents; by her father and mother-in-law, Dutch and Beatrice Engel; by her sister-in-law, Pauline Engel ; her brother-in-law, Tab Ruwoldt.

Dianne graduated from Saint Marys Memorial High School in 1967, and then started nursing school at St. Ritas Hospital Nursing School in Lima, where she graduated in 1970 as a Registered Nurse. She was one of the first two nurses to work in the emergency room of Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, a role she filled for 27 years. She later worked at the family practice of Dr. John Bowling and also Saint Marys Family Practice.

Dianne was a very kind,  social person with a large group of friends whom she loved getting together with on a regular basis. She and her high school friends formed a card club over 50 years ago, and they also took a yearly vacation together. 

She also enjoyed going to eat with her many retired friends from JTDMH and Dr. Bowling’s family practice, including a weekly  Wednesday breakfast at the Friendly Tavern, and an annual dinner with her friends from nursing school. She liked attending the sporting events of her nieces and nephews, all of whom Dianne considered her own children, and treated them with much love and care.

She was a lifelong member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, where she was a lay communion distributor and also helped organize and run the church garage sale for many years. She recently learned how to play Mahjong and joined a club at the local library. She was an avid reader and Dianne will be remembered as a very thoughtful, fun person who wanted the best for everyone.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 A.M. Thursday, October 16, 2025, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Father Prashanth, celebrant. Private burial rites will be held at Gethsemane Cemetery.

Friends may call from 9:00 until 10:30 A.M. Thursday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, where memorial gifts, in lieu of flowers, may be given to the Friends of Holy Rosary School .

Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road, Saint Marys, is honored to serve Dianne’s family. Memories and condolences may be sent to her family via Millerfuneralhomes.net