NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — Donna Sue (Dirks) Diel Young, 83, passed away peacefully on Aug. 20, 2026, in New Braunfels, Texas. Born Donna Sue Dirks on Jan. 22, 1943, in Pawnee County, Kan., to Oscar Dirks and Helen Robertson, she grew up in Great Bend, Kan., with her sisters, Dee and Judy.
Throughout her life, Donna called both Kansas and Texas home. She served as city clerk in Otis, Kan., worked as a bookkeeper, helped on the family farm, and owned The Cougar Corner, an ice cream and hamburger shop in Otis. After moving to Texas, she managed the gift shop at Corpus Christi Medical Center. Donna was first married to Robert ‘Pete’ Diel, with whom she raised their sons, Matthew and Michael. Following Pete’s death in 1992, Donna later met James ‘Jim’ Young. They married in 1996 and shared a devoted marriage until Jim’s death in 2019. Together, they traveled the world and were known for welcoming family, friends, and neighbors into their home. Donna was an exceptional cook and baker, especially known for her Bierocks and pies. She enjoyed puzzles, cards, reading, music, and walking the beach in search of seashells.
Those who knew Donna will remember her sparkling blue eyes, beautiful smile, kindness, sarcastic sense of humor, and generous hospitality. Nothing brought her greater pride than her children and grandchildren.
Donna is survived by her sons, Matthew (Juanita) Diel and Michael (Carrie) Diel; stepchildren, Kimberly (Michael) Dennis and James N. Young, Jr.; grandchildren, Alexandra Dorn, Caden Diel, Natalie (Shane) Boucher, Catherine Diel, Joanna Sanchez, Angela (the late Brian) Day, Nick (Katie) Dennis, and Brock Dennis; several great-grandchildren; her sisters, Dee (the late Larry) Cromer and Judy (the late Richard) Gates; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husbands, Robert ‘Pete’ Diel and James “Jim” Young.
Donna will be remembered for her kindness, faith, love of family, sense of humor, and generous spirit—and for her familiar words, “Love you morey.”
A memorial service and inurnment will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, at Mission Park Dominion Chapel, 20900 IH-10 West, San Antonio, Texas 78257, with a reception to follow. Please see full obituary on www.missionparks.com.
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Aug. 25, 2026
