About Diana: Diana's life has been a special journey since graduating from Lutheran High West in 1966. Our God & Savior Jesus Christ gets the praise and glory for working the undeserved changes and blessings in her adulthood. Diana received her Associate of Arts degree from Concordia, Ann Arbor in 1968. She was enrolled in the deaconess program at Valparaiso University in Indiana for one year, and then transferred to Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois. She received her B.A. in Elementary Education in 1970. She taught 2nd Grade at Trinity Lutheran School in Monroe, Michigan for one year before being married on June 19, 1971 to her childhood sweetheart, Robert Nordlie.

The couple moved to Springfield, Illinois, where Bob attended Concordia Theological Seminary and Diana taught Title I remedial reading and math classes in the Springfield Public Schools. Bob's Vicarage was served in Cincinnati, Ohio (during that thrilling "Big Red Machine" baseball era, with Pete Rose, Johnny Bench etc.) Diana taught 3rd & 4th grade homeroom (yes, 32 students in one classroom) plus language arts to all eight grades at St. Paul Lutheran School. While Bob completed his final year back at the Springfield Seminary, Diana served as "Portress" (receptionist) at Ursaline Convent (a teaching order of nuns). Following Bob's graduation from the Seminary in 1975, the couple was assigned to Messiah Lutheran Church in rural/small town Sterling, Illinois.

Diana assisted in youth ministry until the couple adopted their first daughter, Rebekah Ann, at the age of three days in July, 1977. MaryBeth Christine, their second daughter, was adopted at the age of one week in June 1981. One month later the family relocated to suburban Chicago, where Bob became pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hillside, Illinois. Diana served as a substitute teacher until MaryBeth started preschool. She taught various subjects and grade levels at Immanuel Lutheran School for the next eight years. Those years spent in Chicago were awesome: Wrigley Field & the Cubs; Soldier Field & the Bears; Museum of Science & Industry, etc., etc. In 1993 the couple accepted a call to Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wayzata, Minnesota (frigid Minneapolis suburb). Diana taught 6th grade homeroom and language arts in 5th through 8th grades for six years. She also taught winter survival during a week-long Outdoor Education Camp each year. Diana retired from teaching in 1999 and began working as receptionist at Meridian Manor Assisted Living Center in Wayzata. In 2000 the couple accepted a call to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Tacoma, Washington. Diana remained in retirement from teaching, and supported the ministry at OSLC by singing in the choir and teaching ladies Bible study groups. She loved Seattle, Mt. Rainier, and living in the magnificent Pacific Northwest.

In June, 2004 Diana's first grandson, Elijah, was born to Rebekah. That same year MaryBeth was married to William Nicol in Houston, Texas. Diana's second grandson, Seth, was born to MaryBeth in 2008. In 2009 Bob retired from full-time ministry. The couple moved to San Antonio, Texas where Bob presently serves as Assistant Pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church.

During those nearly 44 years of marriage, God richly blessed Diana and Bob! They moved 13 times (major challenges, but not boring). They also travelled for both pleasure (Alaska cruise) & ministry purposes (The Honolulu Century Classic: 100 miles in one-day bicycle fund raiser on Oahu, Hawaii for Leukemia/Lymphoma research). In 2008 Diana supported Bob by driving their minivan while he rode his bicycle from Canada to Mexico along Pacific Hwy 1 to raise funds for crisis pregnancy centers. (It took 21 days one way). Today Diana still enjoys her lifelong hobby of taking innumerable snapshots as the family's "historian." Collecting specifically Christian antique postcards, and reading books to her grandsons are other fun pastime activities.

On October 22, 2013, Diana was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Diana never smoked and had no symptoms until three weeks before her diagnosis. Her battle is chronicled by her husband at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/diananordlie. On May 5, 2015, Diana's journey came to an end, exactly 18 months and two weeks after it began. She slipped peacefully into the arms of Jesus. She is now at peace, filled with joy, and free from all suffering, sorrow and pain.

Message to Classmates: I am rejoicing while pensive about the passing of Ilene Milz Cynova, my dear childhood friend, LHW classmate, college roommate, wedding bridesmaid (for each other) and fellow LCMS pastor's wife who entered eternity with Jesus July 14, 2012. As we all age and look forward to Heaven, we can be thankful for the important truths of the Gospel that we learned at Lutheran High West. They have been a solid foundation and a secure anchor through all the storms of life. Hold fast to Jesus and He will see us all safely Home.