In Memory Of
Diane M. Mckillip
1947
2023
Diane M. Mckillip
January 22, 1947 — August 5, 2023
Diane Marie McKillip, 76, of Cheyenne, passed away on Aug. 5, 2023, at the Davis Hospice in Cheyenne.
Diane was born Diane Marie Hitchcock on Jan. 22, 1947, in Des Moines, IA, to Norman and Ruth (Carpenter) Hitchcock of Altoona, Iowa.
Raised in the Altoona, Iowa area, Diane attended high school at Southeast Polk High School in Altoona and earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology at Drake University in Des Moines.
Unafraid to pave her own way, Diane owned a women’s clothing store and managed a Hardee’s Restaurant in Manchester, Iowa. She also sold cars at the local Chrysler/Dodge and Yamaha dealership at a time when few women worked in vehicle sales. There were other entrepreneurial pursuits and she worked for many years at the International Arabian Horse Association, but she ultimately found her niche within the mortgage banking industry. Diane served as a mortgage banker until her retirement.
Throughout much of her life, Diane had a love for horses. Her favorite hobby, she spent countless hours raising, training, riding and showing her horses. She expanded upon that by becoming a certified show judge, working many northeastern Iowa and southeastern Wisconsin shows.
Later, she and Brad McKillip found their love for each other, and married August 13, 2006. She and Brad had a love for travel. Exploring paths less traveled, they visited places such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Morocco, Panama, Alaska, and elsewhere. Learning about other cultures and taking in the beauty of other parts of the world kept them planning trips well into the future.
Diane was an avid bridge player and played with the ACBL Cheyenne chapter at many regional events over the years, even serving as its president. She was an active member of Frontier United Methodist Church. She also enjoyed entertaining, camping, attending to her flower garden and watching University of Wyoming and Buffalo Bills football.
McKillip was preceded in death by her father, Norman, and mother, Ruth. She was also preceded in death by her step-fathers Glen Warren and Gene Stientjes.
She is survived by her husband, Brad McKillip, of Cheyenne; son, Jeff Goetz (Tera Brown) of Casper, Wyoming; a sister, Cindy Andrew (Alan Andrew), of Des Moines, Iowa; step-siblings: Joe Stientjes of Boulder, Colorado and Steve (Deborah) Stientjes of Loveland, Colorado.
Grandchildren include Peyton Goetz of Casper; Hannah Goetz of Shell Rock, Iowa. Stepchildren and grandchildren include stepson Brett (Martha) McKillip of Elbert, Colorado; Marlya and James Dunham of Hermit, California, and grandchildren Ben, Brentan, Jayson, Natasha and Desaray; and many great grandchildren. And her favorite little fur buddy, Moe.
The Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 16th at 11:00 am at Frontier United Methodist Church. Lunch to follow. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Diane's name, to your favorite charity.
Diane was born Diane Marie Hitchcock on Jan. 22, 1947, in Des Moines, IA, to Norman and Ruth (Carpenter) Hitchcock of Altoona, Iowa.
Raised in the Altoona, Iowa area, Diane attended high school at Southeast Polk High School in Altoona and earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology at Drake University in Des Moines.
Unafraid to pave her own way, Diane owned a women’s clothing store and managed a Hardee’s Restaurant in Manchester, Iowa. She also sold cars at the local Chrysler/Dodge and Yamaha dealership at a time when few women worked in vehicle sales. There were other entrepreneurial pursuits and she worked for many years at the International Arabian Horse Association, but she ultimately found her niche within the mortgage banking industry. Diane served as a mortgage banker until her retirement.
Throughout much of her life, Diane had a love for horses. Her favorite hobby, she spent countless hours raising, training, riding and showing her horses. She expanded upon that by becoming a certified show judge, working many northeastern Iowa and southeastern Wisconsin shows.
Later, she and Brad McKillip found their love for each other, and married August 13, 2006. She and Brad had a love for travel. Exploring paths less traveled, they visited places such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Morocco, Panama, Alaska, and elsewhere. Learning about other cultures and taking in the beauty of other parts of the world kept them planning trips well into the future.
Diane was an avid bridge player and played with the ACBL Cheyenne chapter at many regional events over the years, even serving as its president. She was an active member of Frontier United Methodist Church. She also enjoyed entertaining, camping, attending to her flower garden and watching University of Wyoming and Buffalo Bills football.
McKillip was preceded in death by her father, Norman, and mother, Ruth. She was also preceded in death by her step-fathers Glen Warren and Gene Stientjes.
She is survived by her husband, Brad McKillip, of Cheyenne; son, Jeff Goetz (Tera Brown) of Casper, Wyoming; a sister, Cindy Andrew (Alan Andrew), of Des Moines, Iowa; step-siblings: Joe Stientjes of Boulder, Colorado and Steve (Deborah) Stientjes of Loveland, Colorado.
Grandchildren include Peyton Goetz of Casper; Hannah Goetz of Shell Rock, Iowa. Stepchildren and grandchildren include stepson Brett (Martha) McKillip of Elbert, Colorado; Marlya and James Dunham of Hermit, California, and grandchildren Ben, Brentan, Jayson, Natasha and Desaray; and many great grandchildren. And her favorite little fur buddy, Moe.
The Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 16th at 11:00 am at Frontier United Methodist Church. Lunch to follow. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Diane's name, to your favorite charity.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Diane M. Mckillip, please visit our flower store.
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