Diane Lynn Mayer

Diane Lynn Mayer, 67, of Navarre, Florida, passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday morning 14 April 2024. 

Diane was born on 4 October 1956 in Melrose Park, Illinois, the daughter of James Thorwald Brekke and Irma Jean (Smallwood) Brekke.  She graduated from high school at Billings West High.

When Diane was young, her family moved quite often because of her father’s job.  In 1967, at the age of 11, they moved to Billings, Montana, where her parents remained the rest of their lives.

On 20 August 1974 she married Joseph D. Mayer in Billings Montana a marriage that lasted almost 50 years.  They had two sons Benjamin James and Corey.

After marrying Joe, they moved to Junction City, Kansas where Joe was stationed at Fort Riley, KS. Benjamin was born in the Army hospital there.  Soon after, they moved to Germany, where they spent over 12 years off and on over their 24 years of service in the Army.  On their second tour to Germany, their youngest son, Corey, was born in a German hospital in Gießen, Germany.  They moved every 3 years to a new state or back overseas.  Through all of this, she was the rock on which the family revolved.  During their Army service, she volunteered and worked with the Army Community Services, helping the younger soldiers’ families learn to cope with their husbands being deployed and assisting young mothers with relocations to a new country.  When Joe retired from the Army, they moved to Navarre, FL, where they both worked for a Software development company for 25 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Irma Brekke, and her brother, Karl Allen Brekke.

She is survived by her husband of almost 50 years, Joseph D Mayer of Navarre, Fl.; sisters, Carolynn (Gary) Ostlund of Huntley and Eve (Matt) Boershinger of Billings, Montana; sons Benjamin J. (Tracey) Mayer of Belmont, North Carolina and Corey D. (Charity) Mayer of Navarre, Florida; and 6 grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held in Montana this summer on a date to be determined.

 Memorials in Diane’s name can be made to The American Cancer Association.