Diane Kay Klemp, 81 of Elgin, Iowa passed away Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at Emplify in West Union, Iowa. Diane Kay Frieden was born April 18, 1945 to George and C. Irene (Helgerson) Frieden in Postville, Iowa. She was baptized on May 13, 1945 and confirmed on May 15, 1960, both at the East Clermont Lutheran Church, rural Clermont, Iowa. Diane attended the Valley Schools K-12. After graduating high school in 1963, she continued her education at the University of Upper Iowa in Fayette. Diane graduated from Upper Iowa in 3 years in August of 1966, magna cum laude with a BA degree in English and Biology.
On February 20, 1965, Diane was united in marriage with Karl W. Klemp at East Clermont Lutheran Church, rural Clermont. Two sons were born to this union. Diane started her teaching career at Postville in August 1966 and continued teaching there for 34 years, retiring in 2000; 14 years in high school and 20 years in middle school. After retirement, she kept busy, besides farming, she worked at the A-Mart in Clermont for 1 ½ years and the Kum-n-Go in West Union for 6 years.
Together with her family, Diane enjoyed picnics and fishing on the Mississippi River. Celebrating the holidays and birthdays became a yearly tradition. At Christmas and Thanksgiving, Diane was responsible for making, lefse, rosettes, and krumkake. She also enjoyed doing word and picture puzzles, watching game shows and attending basketball, football, wrestling and soccer games.
Surviving Diane are her two sons, Jay (Ruth) Klemp of Creswell, Oregon and Jason (Summer) Klemp of Elgin, Iowa; grandchildren, Ashlee (Nate) Hastings, Taylor Klemp, Keegan Klemp, Celia Klemp, Allison (Justin) Fretheim and Isaiah (Kennedy) Corbin; great-grandchildren, Quinn, Maren, Emylyn and Lynkyn; sister, Donna Frieden of Clermont, Iowa; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Roger and Diann Benzing of Seneca, Wisconsin and Roger and Nancy Klemp of Guttenberg, Iowa; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Diane was preceded in death by her husband, Karl Klemp on June 5, 2011; parents, George and C. Irene Frieden; brother, Kevin Klemp; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Carl and Delores Klemp; and her grandparents and aunts and uncles.
A Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Monday, June 8, 2026 at Schutte-Grau Funeral Home in Clermont, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before services at the church on Tuesday.
Funeral Service will be at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at East Clermont Lutheran Church, rural Clermont, Iowa with Rev. Ron Roberts and Rev. Daryl Schultz as the officiants.
Inurnment will be held at a later date.
Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Clermont, Iowa is assisting the family with services.