Diane Marie Terlikowski Herendeen

Hi.
If you’re reading this, I’ve already passed to the other side. I think It’s great to write my own obit. I passed Feb. 2., 2025, at 6 a.m. in Las Cruces, N.M.. I think when you transition to the other side you still have a special way to connect with your loved ones, like a star. How bright it is is based on your basic goodness and love from others. I’m really sad to leave the people I love, but I will see others that passed before me and celebrate that we’re together again, and I’ll be in charge of the welcoming committee when you come join me.
I had stage 4 ovarian cancer this time. I met this awful killer disease for the first time in 2000. I had breast cancer and chemo, but it revisited in 2014, and I had a mastectomy. Ovarian cancer in 2021 finally got me.
I was born in California in 1959 to Luanna May Miller and Norbert Daniel “Uncle Dan” Terlikowski, who I will be happy to see again. Two younger brothers, Dan and Jack, were born in 1960 and 1962 in Chicago.
Now a little about my wild and wonderful life. We lived our younger years on welfare between Minneapolis and inner-city Chicago. We attended Holy Trinity Catholic Grade School in Chicago thanks to my Babci (grandmother ). After dad was released from Leavenworth in 1969, we moved to Woodstock. Leaving an awful bug-infested, inner-city fourth-floor apartment in Chicago, Woodstock was a great town to grow up in.
I married my first and only husband, Jim, on Jan. 30, 1988 and had a GREAT adventure with him. I also then became a stepmom to Harry and Tobias and Cyndi. Our son, Lincoln, joined us in 1994. I have a grandson, Garrison.
I started working part-time at 14 years old, everything from babysitting to fast-food. I waitressed/bartended at Uncle Dan’s, and that was a great experience. I spent 1977-78 at S.I.U and joined the skydiving club as a freshman, then back to Woodstock for some office work and food service jobs. My first management job was as a crew chief at the new McDonald’s in town. After a few office jobs, I started my career with R&L Spring/Medicoil in March 1988. I have a great sense of pride and accomplishment working for Scott Forsythe and being involved in the growth of his family’s companies for 29 years, working up to CFO of the companies.
Enough about me. Ha! I forgot this is all about me.
Baseball has been a huge part of my life. Lincoln was introduced to the game at the age of 4 years. We’ve traveled all over the states and played in the Dominican Republic. Jim was a great student of the game and caught back in the day. He coached and was an instructor for Lincoln and his teammates from T-ball to MCC. Players liked and respected his coaching talent. Lincoln was a talented player and was picked for the Central States USA 17-18-year-old team at 16 years old. He was recruited by NMSU in Las Cruces, N.M.. We knew then when I retired we would live in Las Cruces. I loved the Southwest. The mountains, no mosquitoes or snow, with low humidity. but only two hours away if you want to see snow. We met new friends Cheri, Dee, Karl, Patrick, Robyn and Nora, Tom, and Sally, along with staying close to my besties Kelly and Mike, Diane and Bob, Kris and Don, Steve and Carol, Kylie and her family, and being a second mom to Jim Popp, also the Hickey family, our good neighbors the Bradshaws and Ottens, and so many more friends I adore and remember. I will see you all again. But one more thing.
I told Jim to throw a memorial party in Woodstock for any of my friends that can make it. The key word there is PARTY. There will be some food and drinks to enjoy. Not sad, but a happy party, and have a drink for me. I’ll see you all again.
The memorial will be Sunday Sept. 7, at Ortmann’s Red Iron Tavern by the tracks in Woodstock, 1 to 4 p.m. I’ll be there in spirit.
Diane