Diane Louise Melahn, 68, of Mexico, passed away on Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Noble Health Audrain Community Hospital.
Memorial services will be at the Mexico United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 26, at 10 a.m., followed by an open reception for visitors in the fellowship hall of the church.
Diane was born on April 12, 1953 in St. Joseph, the daughter of Calvin and Iola (Hurst) Arn. On May 29, 1976 in St. Joseph, she married Lewis E. Melahn, who survives.
Mrs. Melahn graduated from St. Joseph Central High School and then obtained a B.S.N. from Duke University Nursing School. She was assistant director of nursing for several years at Pin Oaks Nursing Home and then worked 16 years as a home health nurse for Audrain County Public Health, including running clinics on prenatal care. She spent many hours on the road taking immunizations and other support to citizens all over Audrain County. Diane spent the last 22 years of her career as the director of nursing for the Mexico Public Schools, a job she loved and would have performed forever if arthritis hadn’t forced her retirement in 2013.
She loved being involved with the youth in the school system, watching their development and contributing to their well-being. She spent many nights offering advice and comfort to parents nervous about their sick child. Her office at MHS was regularly filled with students just wanting to chat with her or finding solace in that space when they could not find it anywhere else. Many of the students have said she treated them as if they were her own. She worked to receive grants placing defibrillators in the schools, which saved the life of at least one teacher. In 2016, the Mexico Public School District awarded her with their Pioneer in Education award.
Diane was a member of the Mexico United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school, baked many a casserole, and was constantly looking for ways to support and care for her fellow church members. She belonged to Chapter IO of P.E.O. Through P.E.O. she again found many ways to support and care for her “sisters” and their families, so much so that several of those acquaintances became like family. She volunteered for many years at the Miss Audrain and Miss Missouri pageants. For many years, Diane served as a luminary chair with Relay For Life, which she became heavily involved in after her mother-in-law’s own cancer battles. Diane was a product of her nursing mentality as she was always looking for ways to help others. She was only slowed by her battle with rheumatoid arthritis. Upon becoming a grandmother in 2013, she spent the last 7 ½ years telling anyone that would listen that her grandchildren were the light of her life.
Survivors include her husband, Lew Melahn of Mexico; two daughters, Melissa (David) Coil of Columbia and Meredith Melahn of Columbia; three granddaughters, Chloe, Cora and Callie Jo Coil; her mother, Iola Arn of St. Joseph; and two brothers, Dwight (Naomi) Arn of Overland Park, Kan., and Dennis (Debbie) Arn of Henderson, Nev.
Diane was preceded in death by her father, Calvin Arn.
Memorial donations may be made to the Mexico United Methodist Church, the P.E.O. fund for Cottey College or the Arthritis Foundation. All may be sent in care of Arnold Funeral Home, 425 S. Jefferson, Mexico, MO 65265.
Online condolences may be left at www.arnoldfh.com.
