(1976 Graduate Of Hilltop High School)
WALDRON—Diane Sue Carpenter, age 67, of Waldron, MI formerly of Alvordton, OH, died Saturday, March 7, 2026, at CHP Hospice in Defiance, following a battle with cancer.
She was born April 22, 1958, in Toledo, OH, the daughter of the late Robert and MaryAnn (Guldi) Gable.
Diane grew up in Alvordton and was a 1976 graduate of Hilltop High School. She worked as a young girl for the family’s business, the former Gable Grocery Store in Alvordton until she became an adult.
She then worked at the IGA store in West Unity until its closure, and for 24 years she was employed with Farmers & Merchants State Bank in West Unity as a bank teller until her retirement.
On New Year’s Day 2004, she married Jeffrey Wayne Carpenter near Bryan. They shared 22 years of marriage prior to his recent passing on February 1, 2026. They were members of Betzer Community Church in rural Waldron.
In her spare time, Diane enjoyed being outside tending to her flowers or garden and raising her several donkeys, which she proudly would supply to local live nativity scenes.
She and Jeff enjoyed the annual National Threshers reunion in Wauseon, where they entered a power wagon and tractors. They once enjoyed a trip to Hawaii and traveled to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula near Curtis each summer or fall to enjoy the peaceful nature there. She will be remembered as a strong-willed woman and loving grandmother, who was always looking out for others.
Diane is survived by her son, Kevin R. (Olivia) Yeupell of Alvordton; daughter, Marjorie Yeupell-Apsega of ME; grandchildren, Justin and Katelyn Yeupell, as well as Jaiden and Andrew; her brother, Michael P. (Brenda) Gable of Alvordton; brother-in-law, Lewie M. Carpenter of Waldron; sister-in-law, Wava O. (Michael) Kramer of Fayette; nieces and nephews, Tanya (Jeff) Beltz, Gregory (Lorranie) Gable, Mark (Heather) Gable, Derek (Jessica) Kramer, Brandon Kramer, Jennifer Burkholder, Amy (Andrew) Sauder, Justin (Lindsey) Smith, and Christopher (Shenae) Kramer; and nine great-nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents.
The family will receive friends for visitation at the Marry Funeral Home in Fayette on Monday, March 16, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. until a funeral service will begin at 6:00 p.m. Pastor Kim Repp will officiate. Private burial will take place next to her husband Jeff in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Alvordton.
Memorial contributions can be made to the family for their future consideration. Friends can express sympathies to the family online by visiting the tribute wall at www.marryfh.com. Arrangements have been made with the guidance of the Marry Funeral Home, Fayette.