Diane DeRocher

DIANE DE ROCHER

Diane DeRocher of Sun Valley died Oct. 28 in her Elkhorn home. At the time of her death Diane was 84 years old. Her surviving spouse is James Pearre. Diane and Jim had been married for over 50 years. 

Diane was born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, on October 26, 1940, the daughter of Dorothy and Theodore DeRocher. 

Growing up in northern Wisconsin, Diane learned to love the evergreen forests and the lakes. While still in high school, she worked both as a counselor for kids at a summer camp and as a water-skiing instructor. 

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Diane moved to Chicago where she became an editorial assistant for Crane Communications, a publisher of business and trade magazines. It was in Chicago that she met Jim, who was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. Jim grew up in Pontiac, Illinois. 

After dating for seven years, Diane and Jim were married and enjoyed a wonderful life together, which included years of world travel, made possible by Jim's early retirement. They visited nearly 50 countries over three decades, favoring Southeast Asia and the Himalayan countries 

Their outdoor pursuits together included mountain and rock climbing, hiking, biking, camping and especially sea kayaking, which they did in waters off the coasts of British Columbia, Chile, Argentina and even in the Antarctic with a guide from a ship that carried them to the Antarctic Peninsula from the southern tip of Chile. 

At the time of Jim's retirement, he and Diane moved from Chicago to Ketchum, where they had skied as tourists over the years. At the time of Diane's death, they lived in the Elkhorn neighborhood of Sun Valley.

Diane formed many very close and enjoyable friendships in Ketchum/Sun Valley over the years, and she is mourned by all who knew and loved her. 

May she rest in peace.