Dian Louise (Imerman) Wright

Dian Louise (Imerman) Wright was born April 29, 1937, in Owosso, MI.  She journeyed to heaven, surrounded by her family, on January 8, 2018.  Dian was a pioneer in many areas. She had a passion for her family, service to others, her faith, and quilting. These passions often overlapped. Dian was a devoted mother to her six children. Some of her early years as a young mother were spent in a cabin on Disappearance Creek, Prince of Wales Island, AK, with no power or running water.  While raising six children and working full-time, she still found time to support her children in all their endeavors, education, careers, and relationships. As her children grew up, she made time for regular phone calls, baking them cookies, and a handwritten card for every occasion and thank you. Dian enjoyed traveling across the country visiting her kids and her grandchildren. She took great joy each time her family gathered to celebrate a wedding, birthday or holiday.  Dian graduated from the Mercy School of Nursing in 1959.  Her service to others began early in her career when she worked with disadvantaged children as a social worker for Head Start in Marquette, MI. Although she had six young children, she returned to school at the University of Michigan to earn an advanced degree as a nurse practitioner, a career field in which she was a pioneer. She spent many happy years as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Lansing Pediatric Associates in East Lansing, MI. She later became certified as a lactation consultant. Dian spent over 45 years working in the medical field.  She loved helping children, and took joy in offering practical knowledge and loving advice to new mothers. Dian was raised Catholic by her Irish-Catholic mother, Emma.  In her twenties, she converted to Lutheranism. Her faith, devotion and service were central components of her life. She was an active member in each of the churches she joined.  During her time in the Upper Peninsula, she was a Sunday school teacher at Messiah Lutheran Church. In the summers, she served as the camp nurse, creating memories with her children at Fortune Lake Bible camp. In Marquette, she opened her arms and home by taking in unwed mothers during their pregnancies. Upon leaving the Upper Peninsula, she joined University Lutheran Church in East Lansing, MI, where she eventually became a deacon.  Upon her move to Tampa, Florida, she joined Grace Lutheran Church and continued her service by becoming a counselor with the Stephens Ministry. Dian’s quilting started as a hobby, making quilts for her family and friends for births, graduations and weddings, and continued even into her final days.  She was an accomplished quilter, turning her passion into a quilting ministry. Started with a small group of church friends, this group created quilted squares of love to give comfort. The legacy continues as the largest quilting ministry in Michigan, crafting quilts for babies, elderly and health care facilities. Her last days were spent teaching her granddaughters how to quilt, and together they sewed a baby quilt for a ministry. Many of the people Dian touched throughout her life have a warm remembrance of her - a unique and beautiful quilt lying upon their bed or displayed as pieces of craftsmanship in their home. Dian was active, compassionate and giving throughout her life. She had a devout faith and endless energy and gave selflessly. She will be missed by her children, family and all of the lives she touched. Dian is survived by her six children; Terry Wright, Debbie Wright-Taylor, Tim Wright, Kevin Wright, Michael Wright and Sheryl Wright; 12 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; sister, Sandi Seelhoff; brother, Greg Imerman; cousins; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in passing by her parents, Irvin and Emma Imerman.  

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