DiAnna (Duvel) Higgins

DiAnna Jean (Duvel) Higgins passed away May 3, 2025 at Monterey Community Hospital in Monterey, CA from complications following open heart surgery. There will be a graveside service Saturday, September 13 at 11 a.m. at Salem United Church of Chris (UCC) Cemetery in rural Waukon with a lunch and Celebration of Life following at the church.

DiAnna was born March 15, 1939 to Clarence and Caroline (Miller) Duvel. She attended the country schools in Ludlow Township and graduated from Waukon High School. After graduation, she worked in the office at the high school for a short period of time.

She married John Gray of Waukon. They moved to Chicago, IL where DiAnna worked as an executive secretary for the Masonite Corporation. She and John later divorced. At that time, DiAnna moved to California, where she was executive secretary for the vice-president of Continental Airlines.

She married John Higgins December 7, 1974. After retirement, DiAnna was a very active volunteer with Meals on Wheels. Even though she spent the rest of her life in California, she came back to Iowa every Christmas as long as her parents were living, and they went to California many times to visit her as well.

She never forgot any family member’s birthday and any card she sent would always include some funny cartoons or articles that she though the recipient would enjoy. She would always take lots of pictures when visiting during the holidays and a few weeks later, everyone in the family would receive copies with funny captions attached. She had a great sense of humor and a wonderful laugh.

She also reached out during the sad times as well.  So, on the hard days after losing someone we loved, such as birthdays or anniversaries, she would always give us a call to see how we were doing. She never forgot, no matter how many years it had been.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Duane Duvel; and her nephew, John Duvel. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Shirley Duvel; her niece, Kathy Greentree; her niece-in-law, Debbie McCarthy; her great-niece, Amanda (Andy) Kerner; and her great-nephews, Mikael Bjerke and Adam Bjerke; as well as her great-great-nephews, a great-great-great-niece, and several very special cousins.

She will be missed by them all, and as she always said at the end of every phone call, “Love you to the moon and back!”