Diane Lou Peters, nee Scarff, 73, of Belleville, Ill., passed away quietly on August 6, 2018 at Memorial Hospital surrounded by her family. She was born August 26, 1944 in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, one of ten children blessed to Jesse O. and Hillary L. Scarff, nee Vaughn. Diane was a graduate of the Mount Pleasant Public School System Class of 1962. Following graduation she worked for a period at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant near Burlington, Iowa where she assembled fuses for Claymore Mines. Additionally, she spent a brief time at STAAT Printing Company in Mount Pleasant where she assembled award ribbons such as those used at the Iowa State Fair.

Seeking new adventures and opportunities, Diane relocated to Cheyenne, Wyo. in 1969. Initially, she worked as a server and bartender at the Cheyenne Holiday Inn. Later, she became a bartender in the Officers' Open Mess at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. It was there she would meet the love of her life (fourth barstool on the right). Following a brief engagement, she married First Lieutenant Jack Peters February 14, 1975 (Valentine's Day). During the first few years of her marriage, she worked in banking as line teller and senior vault teller.

Over the 27 years of Jack and Diane's (here's a little ditty) Air Force adventure, she would persevere through 12 changes of station and the numerous TDYs and deployments that go along with being a military wife. She managed the home front and supported the military communities she lived in by volunteering at base thrift shops and assumed leadership positions in various Officers' Spouse Clubs. Additionally, she was at the forefront of unit officer and enlisted wives' groups during Jack's time in Command. Following their retirement from the Air Force, the couple returned to Belleville where Diane soon became involved with the O'Fallon Woman's Club. It was an integral part of her life, and she volunteered to serve in several leadership positions within the organization.

Surviving to cherish her memory are her husband of 43 years Jack Peters, son Michael (Nathalie) Ridinger of Montreal, Canada, step-daughter Nancy (Sherwood) Smith of Milford, Kans., sisters Valerie Chipman and Noma (Ed) Talbott of Plainfield, Ill., Linda (Frank) Fisher of Naperville, Ill., Judy Septer and Mary Watson of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and brothers Jesse Scarff of Fernley, Nev., John Scarff of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Michael (Barb) Scarff of Lenoir City, Tenn., and Jeff (Gayle) Scarff of Lavergne, Tenn. Also surviving are three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.

Donations are suggested to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Visitation: The family will receive friends from 4:00 – 8:00 pm, Sunday, August 12, 2018 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O'Fallon.

Funeral: 10:00 am, Monday, August 13, 2018 at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 111 O'Fallon Troy Rd., O'Fallon, Ill. with Chaplain Lt. Col. James F. Richey, officiating. Burial to follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St Louis, Mo.