Diane Nebel

It is with heavy hearts that we say our farewells to our beloved mother and grandmother Mrs. Diane Nebel, who passed on May 21, 2023.

Diane is survived by children; Shawnda and Graig Maley, Tanya and Curtis Chapman, John and Julie Nebel, April and Jack McCann Jr., Heather and Mike MacPherson and Andrew Nebel, also including eight beautiful grandchildren: Chris and Michelle Myers, Jim Maley, Steven Maley, Sadie Asihene, Ashley McCann, Jackson McCann, Emma MacPherson and Emily MacPherson.

Our amazing mother and grandmother accomplished so much in her lifetime. She was born in Hollywood, California, on November 26,1941, to proud parents JoAnn and Raymond Stober. Diane had two very loving brothers, Marvin Stober and Michael Stober.

In her early years she was a girl scout in her High School years and her parents were the scout leaders. They took a trip back East traveling through many states like New York, Louisiana and Washington D.C. where she shook hands with then president, John F. Kennedy.

The Girls Scout Troops even brought a bottle of water from the Pacific Ocean to dump into the Atlantic attempting some top-secret Girl Scout experiment but really my sister and I are convinced they started global warming with their little antic’s.

She was the first female technician representative for Xerox copiers in California where she even helped the head of the company by giving useful advice to him, for example: “The copier isn’t broken just wasn’t plugged in.” Hopefully she was given a raise after that.

In 1975, Diane and family moved to Thornton, Washington, and then moved to Rosalia, Washington, where she and her husband Jim Nebel resided for over thirty years. They were the Grand Marshalls for Rosalia Battle Days parade one year.

They completely renovated an old Texaco Gas Station in the town of Rosalia which was accomplished by using exact paint color and details from the original building. This Texaco gas station is a historic landmark and is on the National Registry for Historical Places.

Diane and Jim were always eager to jump in with helping hands whenever there was a need in their community. This included working on the local Methodist Church, helping at the Gifted Granny’s consignment shop and they also remained extremely involved with the Rosalia School District by encouraging youth to be artistic.

They own a non-profit named the Budding Rose Art Gallery and have provided several high school scholarship awards over the years, to many deserving and talented art students attending Rosalia High School.

She donated her husband Jim’s butterfly collection to Washington State University for ongoing student research programs. Diane was a environmental health inspector, initially at the Colfax Health Department and then transferred to the Spokane Health Department where she spent several years dedicating her time and hard work. She was always so well admired and liked among her co-workers and faithfully attended Spokane Health Department Retiree luncheons where she enjoyed catching up with all of them.

Diane and Jim ran Bloomsday so many times it is hard to keep track but we think it was around 30 times or so, we will get busy and count the T-shirts.

Diane was a wonderful mother, grandmother, wife, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, neighbor, the list goes on. She will truly be missed by family and friends and everyone she came in contact with. She will remain in our hearts forever and we will always remember just what a wonderful life she lived.

We will be gathering to remember Diane Gail Nebel on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at 10:00AM for a burial ceremony followed by the service at 11:00AM at the Rosalia Community Church, formerly (United Methodist Church) located at W. 3rd St. Rosalia, WA 99170. Catering provided by The Longhorn Barbeque.

Donations can be made to the Rosalia Community Church in honor of Diane Nebel.