December 27, 1932 - April 5, 2025
Diane Theresa Holmes, 92, passed away peacefully in her home in Pleasant Hill on the evening of April 5, 2025.
She was the second of seven children born to Magnus and Rosalia Rahm of St. Benedict. She spent her childhood on the family farm during the Great Depression and WWII, experiences that shaped her resilience and tenacity. She attended St. Benedict grade school and Lu Verne High School, graduating in 1950. Following high school, she worked as a local telephone operator, saving enough money to move to Des Moines and attend the American Institute of Business (AIB).
Upon graduation from AIB, she worked in Des Moines until a romance sparked when her path crossed with high school friend, Lyell Holmes, now a Marine Corps officer and pilot. Their courtship, largely long-distance, was nurtured through letters and phone calls until their marriage on Dec. 28, 1957, at St. Benedict Catholic Church. As a military wife, Diane embraced the challenges and joys of a life moving around the United States, managing a household, raising a family and creating lasting memories. Over the course of Lyell’s career, the family relocated at least 11 times. Twice in the 1960s, Diane returned to Iowa with the children while Lyell served in Vietnam, drawing strength from her extended family during his year-long deployments.
After 20+ years as a military wife, Diane returned to the workforce, dedicating 17 years to California’s Irvine Unified School District, retiring just in time to embrace her most cherished role—that of a grandmother. Whether making homemade applesauce, blending smoothies or flipping pancakes, Diane took joy in catering to her grandkids’ favorites. She and Lyell attended countless games, concerts and special events, ensuring their grandchildren knew they were deeply loved.
In 2020, at age 88, Diane realized a dream of hers and published her novel Two Sisters’ Secret, inspired by a long-held family story shared by her mother. She followed this with her memoir, Uprooted: Family is Where You Find It, a reflection on her life’s journey. Her passion for storytelling led her to book fairs, vendor events and flea markets, where she connected with readers and developed many friendships.
Despite the title of her memoir, Uprooted, Diane ultimately returned to her Iowa roots, spending the last decade of her life surrounded by her church community, fellow authors, neighbors and family. Her 90th birthday was a celebration of simple joys, featuring Tasty Tacos and an evening at Prairie Meadows, playing the slots—both longtime favorites.
Throughout her life, Diane’s faith remained her guiding light. She began each morning in quiet prayer, her rosary always close at hand. Her steadfast belief carried her through life’s joys and heartbreaks, including the unimaginable sorrow of outliving two of her three adult children.
Diane is survived by her devoted husband, Lyell, of Pleasant Hill; her daughter, Julie Sparks, of Prairie City; son-in-law Barry Hoffner of Sausalito, Calif.; daughter-in-law Laila Holmes of Dallas, Texas; and her seven beloved grandchildren: Brad (Carrie Miller) Sparks of Woodland, Calif.; Nathan (fiancée Elizabeth Nichols) Sparks of Des Moines; Benjamin Hoffner of New York City, N.Y.; Daniel Hoffner of Sausalito, Calif.; Trevor Holmes of Dallas, Texas; and Sarah and Lauren Holmes of Dallas, Texas. She is also survived by her siblings: Joe Rahm, Judy (Carolyn Moffett) Rahm and Mike (Deb) Rahm; sister-in-law Joyce Rahm; and brother-in-law Doug (Linda) Holmes.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Jackie Hoffner; son, Brian Holmes; her parents; brothers, Patrick and Bill; and sister Marilyn Arndorfer; sisters-in-law Sondra Rahm, Marjorie King and Audrey DeNio.
Diane’s Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, at SS John and Paul Catholic Church in Altoona. A brief visitation will precede the service at 10 a.m. Interment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery alongside her husband, Colonel Lyell Holmes (USMC Ret), upon his passing.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks to consider a donation to SS John and Paul Catholic Church or Bourse Jackie caravantoclass.org/bourse-jackie.