Diane Kay Eskam

Diane Kay Eskam, 79, of Gering, Nebraska, passed away Monday, October 14, 2024, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. A funeral service will be held at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, October 17, 2024, at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Scottsbluff with Reverend Karen Anderson and Reverend Erin Rath co-officiating. Burial will follow at the Kimball Cemetery. Visitation will take place one hour prior to service time at the church. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting Diane’s obituary page viewable at www.reverencefuneralparlor.com.

Diane was born on February 10, 1945, in Tucson, Arizona to Princeton Forrest Grass and Glendine Grass. The family came to Nebraska in April of 1945 where they worked on a ranch in Banner County for Vesta Johnson. Upon their leaving, they left Diane at just three months old. Vesta and her husband, Godfrey Johnson, took Diane (who was originally named Allyann Grass) to an attorney in Kimball so they could adopt her. 

Diane grew up on the ranch in Banner County until she and Vesta moved to town so she could attend school. She went to Lincoln Elementary School and junior high school in Scottsbluff. They moved to Gering in 1955 where Diane completed her high school years. 

Diane married Stanley Eskam on June 7, 1962, in Scottsbluff. Diane chose that date because of her name change at that time. Together she and Stan welcomed their only son, Rodney, on August 17, 1963.

Diane stayed home raising Rodney and caring for the household needs. She temporarily volunteered at the Nearly New Shop in Gering for St. Timothy’s Church. When Rodney entered the eleventh grade, Diane began a full-time career at First State Bank where she remained for twelve years. She and Stan moved to Banner County in 1991 to look after the family ranch and take care of her mother. Vesta passed in 1994, and Diane and Stan soon moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming. They lived in Cheyenne for six years and while there Diane was employed at Equality State Bank and later the State of Wyoming in Indian Affairs. The couple eventually returned to Gering and Diane started working at Platte Valley Bank Plaza at the Coop location. She later worked at WPCI for a short time before her retirement.

Diane was a self-taught cross-stitch artist. She created many beautiful pieces over the years which she gifted to friends and family. She also enjoyed painting, sewing, gardening, and traveling. Diane was a member of St. Francis Episcopal Church where she was active in the Alter Guild and Episcopal Christian Women (ECW).

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Stan Eskam of Gering; son, Rodney Eskam of Bedford, IN; granddaughters, Heather (Joshua) Lewis of LaVernia, TX and Holly Eskam of Scottsbluff; great-grandchildren, Natalie and Hank Lewis of LaVernia, TX; sisters, Patricia (Gary) Nelson and Lillian Brandt of Prescott, AZ; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, LaVonne Loeske of Scottsbluff, Robert (Connie) Eskam of Thornton, CO, Beverly Eskam of Yuma, AZ, and Pam Eskam of Scottsbluff; along with several nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents, Vesta and Godfrey Johnson; in-laws, Ted and Ruth Eskam; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Robert Sterkel, Norm and Earlene Eskam, Darrell and Bobbie Eskam, Donald Eskam, and Gary Eskam; and aunts and uncles, George and Merle Thomson and Kay and Eddie Brauer.