Dianne Whisnant

Dianne was born on September 22, 1944, to Herbert Charles Poole and Viivi Eugenia (Wiinamaki) Poole, in Laurium, Michigan.

Dianne grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and spent the better part of her childhood in Marquette where her father had built a house along Lakeshore Boulevard. Dianne graduated High School from Marquette Public High School with the class of 1962. Dianne was the eldest of six children.

It was in Marquette, where Dianne met, was engaged to, and married her soulmate, Carold Dean (Butch) Whisnant who was stationed at K.I. Sawyer A.F.B., in 1964. Little did this young lady who spent her entire life, up to then, in the Upper Peninsula know that she would soon travel across the world with Butch, finding herself in Japan. Dianne and Butch would wake up in the morning and look across the sky to see Mount Fuji, she would enjoy local cuisine (bringing back recipes that her son and grandchildren still make today), and she would experience her first Typhoon with her husband during which they banded together to hold down their belongings and stovepipe. Dianne would have her first and only child in Japan, Carold Dean Whisnant Jr.

When they returned to the States Dianne’s adventure didn’t stop as she lived across the country from New York, California, Mississippi, California (again), Virginia, and finally settling in to Arizona. During a couple of Butch’s tours of duty overseas, Dianne found herself back in Marquette, with her son, to live close to family and friends.

Dianne earned an Associate in Arts degree from American River College, in Sacramento, California in 1978. Dianne worked at number of jobs through the years, from working in retail, to the phone company, to working for the Army Air Force Exchange Services from which she retired. Dianne was an extremely crafty person, proud of having grown up in a time where one would sew their own clothes. She was an amazing with her talents of knitting, crocheting, needlepointing, as well as other creative adventures. Dianne was a den master for cub scouts, a bus driver at times, a teachers assistant. She kept herself busy in life with family and friends. During her breaks in-between all other activities, she was an avid reader.

Dianne is remembered by all she knew as a wonderful and caring person. She not only stood along side her husband for 56 years, her son for 53 years, but also by all of her sisters, brothers, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. To her last days she was vigilant to send out birthday cards to as many of the extended family and friends she had throughout the years. Her husband is still in love with her as much today as he was when they first met. Her son is so proud to have had the best mother possible. Her sisters, brothers, cousins, in-laws, all knew her as the go-to person, for any situation. It cannot be missed the love she had for all of her nieces and nephews (related and not related). She spent a fair amount of her time making sure they all knew how special they were and when they had children, she doted on them as well.

Dianne was preceded in death by her mother and father; Herbert and Viivi Poole, and her brother; Herbert Poole Jr. Sadly, Dianne’s sister; Sue (Poole) Vercoe, passed away less than 24 hours after her.

Dianne is survived by her husband; Carold (Butch) Whisnant, her son; Dean Whisnant, her former daughter-in-law; Collette Whisnant, her grandchildren; Elizabeth (Whisnant) McCan, Carold Whisnant III, Matti Whisnant; her sisters; Cindy (Poole) Smalley and Patty (Poole) Krohn, her brother; Bob Poole, her nieces and nephews; Lauri Setter Hutchens, Gerald Setter, Kris Mitchell, Liz (Smalley) Spann, Tim Smalley, Michael Smalley, Jen Krohn-Mckelvey, Lindsay (Krohn) Leahey, and Megan (Poole) Walker, as well as beloved cousins, great- nieces/nephews, and countless friends.

Friends may call at the Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral & Cremation Services on Wednesday, September 22, from 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home at 4:00 pm, with a reception to follow in the funeral home reception room. Burial will be held in the Northland Chapel Gardens.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.