Nile & Diane McLeran

In Loving Memory of Nile and Diane McLeran

A joint memorial service will be held on November 22, 2023, at 10 AM at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, Iowa to honor and celebrate the lives of Nile and Diane McLeran.

Nile Clark McLeran (11/26/39 – 11/23/2021) was born in Chicago, Illinois and Diane Kay (Quigley) McLeran (8/21/1942 – 6/17/2023) was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and they both lived in Des Moines most of their lives.  Both Nile and Diane attended North High School and Drake University.  They were high school sweethearts and were married in 1961.  Nile studied accounting at Drake and Diane’s undergraduate and graduate studies focused on elementary education with an emphasis on reading.  Diane taught in the Des Moines Public Education System for over 25 years.  In addition to working as an educator and raising two children, Diane provided daily care for Nile for 42 years after his stroke in 1979.  Together, Nile and Diane enjoyed many memorable trips with friends and family, and they lived an amazingly full life.  Nile loved his family, sports (Go Cubs – Go Hawks), travel, reading and thought.  Diane was known for her beautiful decorative and vegetable gardens and enjoyed her book club, retired teachers’ association, baking, crafts, card games, knitting, and was a collector of depression glass, clocks, and geodes.  Both Diane and Nile were members of Westminster Presbyterian Church.  Throughout their lives they were both strong and inspirational examples for their families and all those that they met over the years.

Nile and Diane are survived by their two children, Shawn (Judy) McLeran of Phoenix, Arizona, and Susan (Steven) Olson of Parker, Colorado, five grandchildren (Michael (Alexandra), Kelsey, Nick, Victoria and Abigail) and great granddaughter (Luciana).

Nile is also survived by two brothers, Jerry McClaren and Herbert Folsom, and Diane is survived by her brother, Larry (Charlotte) Quigley of Sanford, Florida, and sister-in-law Noy Quigley of Ankeny, Iowa.  Nile was preceded in death by his parents, Lou (Folsom) and Gail McLeran, five sisters (Vera Keul, Barbara Dempewolf, Rhoda Kelterer, Saline Pottorff and Sue Ann Wick), and three brothers (James McLeran, Jack McLeran and Ronald McLeran).  Diane was preceded in death by her parents, Virgil and Lenore Quigley, husband Nile, and her younger brother, James Quigley.

Memorial Contributions can be made in memory of Diane and Nile McLeran to Unity Point Health – Des Moines Foundation (Stroke Club), 1415 Woodland Avenue, Suite E-200, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 or to Everybody Wins! Iowa, (Literacy Program) P.O. Box 691, Des Moines, Iowa, 50303.