Diane Joy Vasquez

Diane Joy Vasquez, 71, of Iron River, MI, passed away on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

Diane was born on September 12, 1954, to Kenneth and June Kosky in Iron River, Michigan and raised on a dairy farm as the youngest of four siblings, the older of whom were Kenneth, Darryl and Lynette. She was raised across the road from her cousins Sally and Sue, who were like sisters to Diane.

Diane graduated from West Iron County High School in 1972 and from Northern Michigan University in 1974 with an associate’s degree in business. She met her husband Dante at NMU while in line to buy books. After graduation, she had her daughter Sarah. Dante became a commissioned officer in the Marines and the family lived in Quantico, VA; Camp LeJeune, NC, where their son Dante Kenneth was born; and at the Marine Base in Pensacola, FL.

Diane lived much of her adult life in Ann Arbor, MI. She worked her way up the ladder at the University of Michigan and became Human Resources Director of Operations. She was friends with a wonderful group of women, who included her sister Lynette, Lynda Clewell, Sue Ressler and Sue Bright. These women were her lifelong friends, and very important to her. She raised her children in Ann Arbor with her sister Lynette, and was an excellent mother. She showed up for every single event for her children, and then for her granddaughter, Annoura. She spent many joyful hours at Annoura’s equestrian events.

Diane was a talented knitter. She loved the Green Bay Packers, owls and elephants, spending the winters with her husband and sister in Arizona, garlic bread and dark chocolate, watching Harry Potter movies at Christmas and making her famous Christmas French toast, books (she had a deep love of reading), daisies and lilacs, and family gatherings. She was so full of energy. There are a thousand things that will not happen now because she is not here to drive them. Her favorite quote was “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

Diane is survived by her sister and best friend Lynette, her husband Dante, her children Sarah (Neil) and Dante, her granddaughter Annoura, her cousins/sisters Sally and Sue, sister-in-law Cindy (Darryl), and many beloved nieces and nephews. Special thanks to her nephew Toby, who made her homecoming possible. That’s all she wanted was to come home.

A graveside service will be held for Diane on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Rosehill Cemetery in Beechwood (Iron River Township) at 11:00 a.m.