Diane Kaye Hazelbaker, 75, passed into heaven Saturday, September 30, 2023, surrounded by her family. A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at Third Church, 708 E 13th St, Pella, IA with visitation starting at 11:00 AM and a short memorial service at 1:00 PM.

A visitation or celebration will also be held in Cedar Rapids at a later date to be announced.

Diane was born on March 9, 1948 in Eldora, IA to Willard and Marjorie Trout. She attended school in Eldora and Jewell and graduated in 1966 from South Hamilton High School.

In 1967, she was united in marriage to Gary Cottington and moved to Des Moines where they resided until 1969 when they moved to Pella.

In 1976, she was united in marriage to Loren Kuiper and moved to a farm West of Pella.

Diane wore many hats including full time mother, working as a paralegal at Gaass, Klyn, and Boehlje, and selling insurance for Farm Bureau Insurance.

Diane displayed great musical talent from an early age. She took the lead parts in high school musicals, and learned the piano at an early age. Wanting to keep up her music, she joined Sweet Adelines, and worked with professional voice coaches. She sang lead in The Acapellas, with Russine Morris, Jolene Kubli, and her close friend Paula Boehlje, winning Region 20 quartet championship in 1982. That enabled them to compete in the international competition, placing 9th.

In addition to singing, Diane had gifts of sewing, cardmaking, and decorating.

After raising her 4 children, while living in Cedar Rapids, she met Craig Hazelbaker. After a long courtship, Diane and Craig were married on March 7, 2015 and made their home in Cedar Rapids. They enjoyed traveling to Montana to visit Craig’s family and friends.

She battled many health issues including 3 fights with breast cancer starting in 2007.

Left behind to cherish her memory:

Craig W. Hazelbaker of Cedar Rapids

Kaye (John) Langstraat of Pella

-Amanda, Molly, Trett

David (Sarah) Cottington of Pella

-Grace, Andrew, Levi

Kevin (Shantell) Cottington of Melcher-Dallas

-Brendan, Trevor

Julie Kuiper of Pella

-Ashlynn, Christian, Bentley

Stepdaughter Morgan (Joe) Turner of Cedar Rapids

-Arianna, Ewan, Gwendolyn

Sister-in-Law Sylvia Trout

-Sarah, Erin

She is also survived by many great-grandchildren and her two cats, Smokey and Herky.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Willard and Marjorie Trout, brother Bruce Trout, stepson Ian Hazelbaker, and her sister through music, Paula Boehlje. 

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