Diane T. Wells

Diane Tiegs Wells (03/25/1955-12/14/2023)

“Love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark.” - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Consistent with her habit of Irish goodbyes, Diane Tiegs Wells was suddenly and unexpectedly called home to God on December 14, 2023.

Born March 25, 1955 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Elroy and Irene Tiegs, Diane lived in the Grafton and Cedarburg area most of her life. Like her father before her, she attended St. Joseph Parish School and Grafton High School, graduating in 1973. She was the first in her family to attend college, graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

She married William Wells of Mequon, Wisconsin on June 3, 1978 at St. Joseph Catholic Parish. They had two children: Andrew and Kathryn. Diane was fiercely proud of her children, constantly providing support and encouragement and often boasting of their accomplishments—usually a little too much. Her love and support made it clear that there was nothing she wouldn’t do for them. She made sure their childhood was full of love, fun and whimsy.

Diane encouraged her children’s interest in nature and the world around them by letting them bring a wide array of creatures into their home. She loved learning and reading, and passed these habits along by making sure there were always plenty of books to read, art projects to do, instruments to play, and creative things to build with. She encouraged her children and grandchildren to learn about the world and pursue their ambitions. Mom loved science and meteorology, enjoying a good thunderstorm—especially if she could be outside watching it, much to the dismay of her family. She loved to play the piano.

Mom’s lifelong passion for learning extended beyond her own family; she was a longtime teacher at several schools, including St. Joseph Parish School in Grafton and Saint Monica School in Whitefish Bay, where she helped hundreds of middle school students learn and love math and science.

Her favorite, greatest, and most significant role was as a devoted grandmother to her five grandchildren: Adele, Cecily, and Royce Mitchell, and Sloane and Mara Wells. This was obvious through the magical playroom she created for them—a loving space filled with imagination, creativity, and fun. She took her grandchildren on countless bike rides and park excursions and helped them raise butterflies. She looked forward to attending school mass at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Parish every Friday. Her love for her grandchildren knew no bounds.

When she wasn’t with her children or grandchildren, Mom was often found with a coffee cup in hand in her wildflower fairy garden “puttering,” reading, or knitting. She often showed her love through giving gifts, usually going overboard to make sure her loved ones—especially her grandkids—had plenty of treats, trinkets, and singing snowmen.

Diane was preceded in death by sister Sandra Farrington, parents Elroy and Irene Tiegs, and brother-in-law Mike Fedel. She is survived and dearly missed by, William Wells, Andrew (Allison) Wells, Kate (Doug) Mitchell, her five grandchildren, and her siblings Karen (Marty) Formico, Sue Fedel, Jim (Sue) Tiegs.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, December 29, 2023, at 1:00 PM at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church – North, 1375 Covered Bridge Rd., Cedarburg. A visitation will take place, on Friday, at the church from 11:00 AM until 12:45 PM.