Diana J. Pape

Diana June Pape, age 84 of Britton, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023 at Cambrian Assisted Living in Tecumseh. She was born June 23, 1939 in Britton, a daughter of the late Raymond Frederick and Esther Edna Marie (Papenhagen) Seagert. On June 24, 1961 at the Congregational Church in Britton she married Harry “Bud” Rudolph Pape, Jr. They were blessed with 54 years together until Bud’s passing on February 22, 2015.

Diana graduated from Britton-Macon High School in 1957 and was the salutatorian of her class and received the D.A.R. award.  She received her associate degree in dental hygiene from the University of Michigan and worked as a hygienist for over 30 years. For 50 years Diana has been a faithful member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Britton. She was a former 4-H leader with the Britton-Macon 4-H Club and a master gardener. Diana loved reading and, with her husband Bud, loved western style square dancing. Diana loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as if each one was her first.

Diana is survived by her children, Nancy (Dennis) Findley of Tecumseh; Dale Pape (Darci Kudzma) of Adrian; Jerry (Tammy) Pape of Palmyra; and Yvonne (Jeremy) McNicol of Britton; sister, Linda (Rick) Ries of Sand Creek; brother, Richard (Donna) Seagert of Manchester, Ind.; nine grandchildren, Tara (Tyler) Schmiesing, Aaron (Tylar) Findley, Allison (Travis) English, Matt (Mykenzie Niemann) Pape, Durand (Allison Hoag) Pape, Keeley (Jacob) Couture, Deltann Pape, Natalie (Shane Vollmar) McNicol and Brett McNicol; one step-granddaughter, Heather (Chris) Sullivan; four great-granddaughters, Naomi and Fallon Schmiesing, Adelyn English and Hadleigh Couture; one step-great-grandson, Lincoln Sullivan; three nieces, Rachel (Grant) Emery, Sarah (Andy) Hayton, and Emily (Henry) Reinart, and their children, Luke and Jill Emery and Dashel Hayton.  Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Seth McNicol, and a great-grandchild, Morgan Schmiesing.

Visitation for Diana will be from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Tecumseh Chapel of Handler Funeral Homes with a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Britton with Pastor Dave McCarty officiating with visitation from 10 a.m. until the service. Burial will be in Ridgeway Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lenawee and Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be offered to the family at handlerfuneralhomes.com.