Diana Louise Lantz

Lake Crystal farmer, Diana Lantz, age 87 died January 3, 2025 at Ecumen Pathstone Living, Mankato. 

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., on Friday, January 24, 2025 at Zion Lutheran Church, Lake Crystal. Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at Zion Lutheran Church, Lake Crystal with visitation one hour prior. The Reverend Erik Olson, and Pastor Susan Schoon will be officiating. Burial will be at the Lake Crystal Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Zion Lutheran Church Building Fund. Livestream of the service will be available at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Diana Louise Lantz was born March 20, 1937 to Louis Heinrich and Theresia (Kickhafer) Schmiesing at Immanuel Hospital in Mankato, Minnesota. She was raised on a farm in Vernon Center, where she attended school through 8th grade. Diana graduated from Garden City High School in 1955. She was active in 4-H, Walter League, church choir, and was a part time organist. She graduated from Mankato State College in 1958 with a B.S. degree in Nursing and Health. Diana did private duty nursing at Winnebago Community Hospital, Medical Nursing at Asbury Methodist Hospital in Minneapolis, and obstetrical nursing at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park. 

Diana married Frederick Lee Lantz on August 7, 1959 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Vernon Center. They lived in Mankato where she worked at Immanuel Hospital. In 1964, they moved to a farm near Lake Crystal in Butternut Township. 

Diana worked as a Summer Head Start nurse in 1978 and 1980. She was active in the Red Cross Blood Drive program giving 18 gallons of blood and the Red Cross Blood Pressure Screening Clinic in Lake Crystal. In 1985, she returned to nursing part time at the Lake Crystal Health Care Center. She was a room mother during her children’s elementary school years, Cub Scout Leader, Camp Fire Leader, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher, part time organist at Trinity Lutheran Church where she held offices of Secretary, Outreach and a member of LWML. Diana was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #294 Lake Crystal, “Ladies of the Lakes” Red Hat Society, Quilting Club, Tuesday Scrabble Club, and a member of the 500 Card Club for 42 years. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church for 38 years, and a member of Zion Lutheran Church until her passing. 

She enjoyed farming, mowing, hog barns, gardening, music, quilting, nursing, embroidery, and most of all attending her family’s activities. 

She is survived by her husband Fred of 65 years; sons, Matthew (Cheryl) of Lake Crystal, Mark (Karlyn) of Victoria, Luke (Aubrey) of Lake Crystal; daughter, Teresa (Richard) of Sandstone; 11 grandchildren, Max (Liz), Carter (girlfriend, Izi), Noah (girlfriend, Sarah), Chloe (Cole), Logan (Brianna), Lauren (boyfriend, David), Landon (girlfriend, Claire), Levi (girlfriend, Samantha), Alexis, Alex, and Abby (fiancé, Andrew); 4 great-grandchildren, Sam, Ellie, Vera, and Henry; brother, Robert (Marge) Schmiesing of Vernon Center; sister, Darlene Bokelman of Franklin, West Virginia, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by triplet grandchildren in infancy; 7 brothers-in-law, and 6 sisters-in-law.

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by Mankato Area Funeral Homes. Unforeseen technical, internet, facility, and/or acoustical circumstances may produce a diminished end product. Please note, if the live stream does not appear, we are attempting to record and publish the service for later viewing.