Diane Marie (McIntyre) Rowe

Diane Marie (McIntyre) Rowe passed away peacefully on November 13, 2025, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Sylvania, surrounded by her loving family.  

Diane was born on August 25, 1948, in Lima, Ohio to loving parents William Hume McIntyre & Ina (nee Leonard, of Vine Grove, KY) McIntyre. She grew up in Toledo, Ohio with her brother Bill McIntyre. She was a Campfire Girl and attended Little Flower Elementary and Rogers High School. 

Happily married to her husband Bud Rowe for 46 years, they lived in Point Place near the Maumee Bay. They spent many fun years boating on Lake Erie and the Maumee River, and built lasting friendships at Bay View Yacht Club. 

Diane worked as a commercial real estate property manager & executive assistant to Bob Gersten for over 30 years. Her dedication, work ethic, and honesty were exceptional. The trust and generosity of Bob and Stephanie Gersten meant the world to her.

Diane was an active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. She was a graduate of the Lay Ministry program, a spiritual director through Manresa of Bloomfield Hills, and a long-time leader of the OCIA program.  She loved singing in the parish choir and also sang for several years in the Toledo Diocesan choir. She was a Lector and a Eucharistic Minister, and was honored to serve as a liaison on the Bishop’s Diocesan Council. She was unwavering in her beliefs, yet open-minded and accepting of everyone. Her travels to Medjugorje were beyond memorable, and her spiritual wisdom touched so many, including those in the prison reform system. Prison Ministry was profoundly rewarding to her. She brought kindness and mercy to those who needed it most (and perhaps deserved it the least). She treated them with dignity and compassion. She looked for the good in everyone. 

Diane was a Master Gardener and her annual dahlias will always be remembered. She loved feeding the cardinals daily, enjoyed spending time with her dear friends Maryann Boaden and Rose Duncan, and forever cherished her black lab, Ruby. 

She was preceded in death by her brilliant shining star, granddaughter Stephanie Jackson. Surviving are her beloved husband Kenneth “Bud” Rowe; brother Bill (Colleen) McIntyre; daughters Carolyn McIntyre, Beth (Jeff) Wilson; stepdaughters Roxane (Red) Roth, Melinda Rowe, and Jamie (Jeff) Wonderly; grandchildren (Dan Jackson), Jessica (Alex) Scher, Alison (Justin) Jacobs, Olivia Sodd, Zack Bernhoft, Bennett Bernhoft (& their father, Bob Bernhoft), Jacob Wonderly and Jayce Wonderly; and 7 great-grandchildren, Eliot, Camille, Leon, Remy, Quincy, Marley, and Levi. They will miss their “Newie,” her festive holiday celebrations, and her fun-loving spirit, but know her legacy of joy will live on. 

Visitation will be Thursday, November 20 from 4-8 p.m. at Sujkowski Funeral Home Northpointe, 114 E. Alexis Rd., with a scripture service at 7 p.m. A sharing of memories will follow.  Funeral services will begin Friday at 9:15 a.m. in the funeral home and continue with the Funeral Mass at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church at 10 a.m.  Interment will follow in Historic Woodlawn Cemetery.

To her family, Diane’s life was far too short, but she passed with tremendous grace and peace. She had very few regrets, and was full of gratitude for her rich and beautiful life. 

“To love another person is to see the face of God.” Victor Hugo, Les Miserables.

Special thanks to physician Donald Vogel for his years of dedication and care. 

Memorial contributions may be sent to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church or charity of choice.

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