As most of you are aware, Diane Wahto (D5) passed away on September 16, 2020. She suffered a stroke in the fall of 2019 and had a long rehabilitation from that event. Then, in the spring this year, she had another stroke and eventually succumbed to the effects of that.
Diane was a teacher of English and Journalism most of her career years. She graduated cum laude with a BA in English from Western Michigan University. She went on to earn an MA in English at Pittsburg State University and an MFA in creative writing from Wichita State University. She taught high school English and Journalism in Winfield, Kansas for nine years, and taught English composition at Butler Community College until her retirement in 2009.
Diane’s passion was poetry, though she confessed that she never wrote a poem before she reached middle age. She has written hundreds of poems; many have been published in various journals, and her awards include the American Academy of Poets Award. In 2018, The Sad Joy of Leaving, her first book of poetry, was published by Blue Cedar Press, followed in 2019 by a second book, First, the Reflexion. She has been co-editor of “365”, an anthology of poetry from people who dedicate to write a poem a day for 365 days.
Diane first became a member of Kanas Authors Club in 2014, as did I. She became President of District 5 in 2017 and continued through 2019, including chairing the Convention Committee for the 2019 Convention in Wichita hosted by District 5. I served as District 5 secretary under Diane, and succeeded her as President of D5 when she retired at the end of 2019, and also helped to co-chair the Convention Committee when Diane’s health declined. She also had been the State Awards Chairperson from 2015-2020.
Diane gave of her time and talents freely to Kansas Authors Club, and still continued to strive for her own writing best. She was an encouraging and enthusiastic mentor and she will be greatly missed by all of us. I am so glad that she was able to be aware when her son, Geoffry presented this Award of Service to her.
Presented by Connie Rae White, D5 President
Diane was a teacher of English and Journalism most of her career years. She graduated cum laude with a BA in English from Western Michigan University. She went on to earn an MA in English at Pittsburg State University and an MFA in creative writing from Wichita State University. She taught high school English and Journalism in Winfield, Kansas for nine years, and taught English composition at Butler Community College until her retirement in 2009.
Diane’s passion was poetry, though she confessed that she never wrote a poem before she reached middle age. She has written hundreds of poems; many have been published in various journals, and her awards include the American Academy of Poets Award. In 2018, The Sad Joy of Leaving, her first book of poetry, was published by Blue Cedar Press, followed in 2019 by a second book, First, the Reflexion. She has been co-editor of “365”, an anthology of poetry from people who dedicate to write a poem a day for 365 days.
Diane first became a member of Kanas Authors Club in 2014, as did I. She became President of District 5 in 2017 and continued through 2019, including chairing the Convention Committee for the 2019 Convention in Wichita hosted by District 5. I served as District 5 secretary under Diane, and succeeded her as President of D5 when she retired at the end of 2019, and also helped to co-chair the Convention Committee when Diane’s health declined. She also had been the State Awards Chairperson from 2015-2020.
Diane gave of her time and talents freely to Kansas Authors Club, and still continued to strive for her own writing best. She was an encouraging and enthusiastic mentor and she will be greatly missed by all of us. I am so glad that she was able to be aware when her son, Geoffry presented this Award of Service to her.
Presented by Connie Rae White, D5 President
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