Obituary of Dian Nadine Glaser

Dian Nadine Glaser Glaser, Dian Nadine (nee Hartmann) Passed away on February 14, 2017 at the age of 74 in Bloomington, MN after a long fight with that thief called dementia. Dian was preceded in death by her parents, John and Addie Mae Hartmann. She is survived by her husband, Jerry, her children, Vanessa Balhorn, Stacey (Matt) Davies and Alicia (Brian) Copeland and six grandchildren: Alexa, Amara and Brady Balhorn and Gunnar, Jared and Logan Davies. She is survived also by a sister, Margaret (Steve) Johnson, of Kettle Falls, WA, as well as numerous cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews. Dian was born in Fort Dodge, IA on October 19, 1942. She grew up as a farm girl in Iowa, learning to cook her favorite food, potatoes, at the age of four. She learned early on that one should never eat an onion like an apple and carried a distaste for onions her whole life. She was a member of 4H, loved her cow named Betsy, and told her daughters many times that cows can and will eat themselves to death if left to graze the fields unchecked. She was a graduate of Manly High School in Manly, IA. She enjoyed playing basketball despite being a mere five feet tall. She always enjoyed watching both men’s and women’s basketball games and made everyone she knew watch “Hoosiers” when it came out on VHS. Dian was a nurse, graduating from the RN diploma program at Broadlawns Hospital in Des Moines, IA on August 13, 1965. She met the love of her life on a blind date and, despite his dinner attempt - an onion-laden hamburger, eventually married Jerome (Jerry) Glaser on July 23, 1966, in Northwood, IA. For several years she worked as a pediatric nurse in Ames, IA, while Jerry finished graduate studies and taught at Iowa State and they lived summers in Texas, Alabama and Tennessee. In 1973, they settled in Bloomington, MN, where they raised their daughters. Dian was a homemaker, willing volunteer, and caring nurse at several area nursing homes (The Masonic Homes and Friendship Village in Bloomington, and Castle Ridge Care Center in Eden Prairie). She was a Girl Scout troop leader and cookie mom, Camp Fire Girls leader, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher, enjoyed Bible Study Fellowship and the prayer chain and willingly donated hours of her time to the Quilting circle at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Bloomington. Dian was a loving wife, mother, sister, and aunt. She truly shined as a grandmother and treated her grandchildren to their favorite treats, games and tons of love at every opportunity. Her Thanksgiving tradition of giving each family member a Hallmark Keepsake ornament leaves us all with many memories to treasure. She will be dearly missed. A private family memorial service was held. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Presbyterian Homes of Bloomington, Bridgeway, 9889 Penn Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55431 (Reference Dian Glaser). Private internment to occur later in Northwood, IA. A heartfelt thanks to the staff at Presbyterian Homes of Bloomington and Health Partners Hospice for the loving care they have provided during this journey with dementia.