Diann Kay Smetzer, 80, of Ashland passed away at 5:00pm Tuesday evening, October 27, 2026, with her children at her side.
She was born on November 9, 1945 in Miami, Florida the daughter of the late David and Dorothy (nee Hetsler) Sloan.
Diann was very proud to tell everyone she was born in Miami Florida
Diann graduated from Ashland High School, Class of 1963.
For more than 24 years, Diann worked as an administrative assistant for J.C. Meyer Realtors. She was a lifetime member of the Ashland VFW Post 1067
and proudly served as treasurer and membership chairman of the ladies auxiliary for many years.
Throughout her life, she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, jigsaw puzzles, pulling weeds, camping and for the last several years attending Grace Church in Wooster.
She is survived by her loving children, Wendy (Donnie) Beer of Ashland and Troy (Kim) Smetzer of Ashland; her grandchildren, Megan (Chad) Auer, Taylor (Cory) Hedrick, AJ (Casse) Beer, Riley (Britni) Harpster, Keirah Smetzer (fiancé Patrick McGinty ), Hallee Smetzer (fiancé Will Heisler), Hannah (Brayden) Bartter; her great grandchildren, Julia, Baylee, Dylan, Jaxson and Grant Auer, Lucy and Wesley Hedrick, Harper, and Emersyn Beer, Luella and Lowen Heisler, Emery Harpster, and Barrett Bartter; her great-great grandchildren, Ariella Rose and Vanessa Beursken; her siblings, David (Mary Ann) Sloan of Ashland, Debbie (David) Bowman of West Salem, and Dixie (Lorne) Miller of Butler; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Diann is preceded in death by her grandparents Warren and Helen Hetsler, her parents David & Dorothy Sloan, her niece Holly Sloan; and her former husband, Theodore “Teddy” Smetzer.
Family and friends may visit on Saturday, November 7, 2026 in the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Diann loved sharing and hearing stories of her past, please come and share yours with each other. Interment will take place in the Ashland Cemetery at a later date.
For those unable to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to handle the arrangements.
Funeral Home: Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home
Website: denbowfh.com