Diane Wortman Gebhard, class of 1965 , Tell City, Indiana Diane K. Gebhard, 67, passed away August 29, 2014 at St. Mary’s Medical Center. She was born August 9, 1947, in Indianapolis. Her father was the late John Wortman and her mother, Ruth (Bolin) Wortman, survives her. A graduate of Manual High School, in Indianapolis, Diane will be remembered as having a lifelong career of service in assisting others to assure that goals and deadlines were met to make the communities and state in which she lived, more desirable places for people to live and new industry to want to move to. Many of “Di’s” friends were met through her work with the Democrat Party. She started at the Indiana State Senate in 1984. Diane worked the sessions each year until she went to the Indiana House of Representatives in late 1988, after the Democrats won a 50-50 split in the November election. (A historic plaque, for which she was responsible in getting, representing that first ever 50-50- split, hangs in the House Chamber. Diane has a replica of that plaque also.) She was then hired as an executive assistant to the Democrat Caucus Leader of the House of Representatives, the late Dennis Heeke. She was responsible for the scheduling of all committees during the session and communicating all information from the Caucus Chair to the Representatives. During those four years of session work, she worked for five different Democrat Senators and did all of the duties of the Caucus Chair’s executive assistant, making her the first link to his constituents. She took pride in her work and enjoyed hosting events and functions where people could meet and learn more about candidates running for office. Prior to making Perry County and Tell City her home, it was her tenure at the State House that Diane honed her political and legislative skills that would help her adopted community of Perry County in many ways, such as offering ideas that led to improvements to the Rome Courthouse or to the boat ramp in Troy. Diane was the unrelenting driving force that provided the funding to make the Perry County Airport the envy of every community in the state. The airport was upgraded to insure present and future economic opportunities would be available for Perry County. She used her immeasurable knowledge of the legislative system and her friendship with the local legislative delegation to garner hundreds of thousands of dollars to begin the airport expansion. She then utilized these state grants as local matches for a multi-million dollar grant federal grant that completed the Perry County Airport runway expansions and upgrades. When the Perry County Highway Department needed a new highway facility, it was Diane who rolled up her sleeves and made it happen. She worked with the local legislative delegate, found the most desired site, acquired that site from the State of Indiana and made it available for the new county garage at little or no cost to Perry County. Diane served several years as the Perry County Administrator, working for the county commissioners. She used her knowledge of state government, grants and the friendship of officeholders she worked with, to fund and acquire innumerous projects and benefits for Tell City and Perry County. She was always an activist in local and state political circles and used her considerable political talents to make a positive difference for the people who call Perry County “home”. Diane served her state, her county and her hometown with distinction, pride and resolve. She will be missed by all who knew her, but long remembered for the betterment she brought to her adopted community of Perry County. “Di” was a good person and a friend to many. She was never one to hold back how she felt about anything, yet loved deeply and really cared for her family, friends and community. Diane was a member of First United Methodist Church and most recently worked at Branchville Correctional Facility as an administrative assistant. She enjoyed her cats, knitting, sewing, and spending time at the beach. Diane is survived by her husband; Gary Gebhard, Tell City; mother, Ruth Wortman, Indianapolis; children, Christine Slack (Rick), Savannah, Georgia and David McNeeley (Jennifer), Indianapolis; a sister, Kathy Dalmbert (Max), Indianapolis; step children, Cindy Mulzer (Brett), Newburgh and John Gebhard (Natalie Harding), Tell City; grandchildren, Erin and Connor McNeeley, Nolan and Nathan Gebhard and Jack and Molly Mulzer and brother-in-law, Keith Gebhard (Kathy), Tell City. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at Huber Funeral Home, Tell City Chapel, with burial in Greenwood Cemetery. Pastor Lee Shepherd will officiate. Visitation will be from 3:00 until 8:00 PM Monday and from 9:00 until 11:00 AM Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to Perry County Relay for Life. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 16:09:14 +0000