Jane S. Divelbiss

Jane S. Divelbiss

Peoria, AZ

Jane Divelbiss, aged 77, died on November 15, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. Jane and her identical twin sister, Judy, were born in Waxahachie, Texas to Eugene and Louise Skipper.

She spent most of her childhood in Sherman, Texas, which she left after graduation from Sherman High School to attend Texas Tech University in Lubbock. A lifelong sports fan, she always rooted for the Red Raiders, along with the Steelers, Hawkeyes, and Arizona Cardinals.

While earning her teaching degree at Texas Tech, she met her future husband, R. Douglas Divelbiss, a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, stationed at Reese Air Force Base for pilot training. They were married on November 29, 1969, and shared a long and fulfilling life together, with Doug passing away in 2015 after 46 years of marriage.

Jane’s natural love for conversation, social interaction, and connecting with people shaped her career choices. As a foreign language teacher, her ability to engage with students and foster meaningful classroom discussions came in useful for her later ventures into real estate, where her skills in meeting new people and developing lasting relationships were keys to her success.

Jane made significant contributions to her community through her work with the PEO chapter, helping women access educational opportunities. Her involvement in scholarship programs, grants, awards, and loans likely touched many lives, empowering women to further their education. She was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Iowa City, Iowa, later followed by Peace Lutheran Church of Peoria, Arizona.

Jane also had a lighter side. As an avid gamer, she found joy in both hosting and attending weekly bridge and mahjong games and was never one to pass up a round of late-night cards or dice with friends and family. As a mother of two pre-teens, she took up golf as another way to connect with others, strengthen relationships, and spend time with her husband.

Jane and her husband loved road trips, partly because flying with golf clubs was a hassle and any drive less than 20 hours was doable as long as there was a Motel 6 along the way. On their travels, they always had two GPS systems: one to navigate to the golf courses and the other to find the best shopping spots. Honestly, I’m not sure they ever needed directions to their final destination—they always seemed to find their way.

Jane and Doug raised their two children in the suburbs of Chicago during the 1980’s, followed by a move to Iowa City in the early 1990’s. The spirit of suburban life, with its community events and school activities, social gatherings and friends, shaped a solid and close family bond that remained even after the kids left for college and Doug and Jane moved to the Southwest.

After the loss of her husband, Jane’s strength and resilience truly shone. She found solace and joy in the supportive community she had cultivated in Westbrook Village, surrounded by a group of close friends who became her pillars of support.

Of all her beloved pastimes, her grandchildren were her greatest joy. She would visit them in Virginia several times a year and loved spending holidays in Arizona or enjoying trips to the beach. She cherished that first big hug at the airport, reading to them before bed, helping with homework, and even mediating their fights.

To know Jane was to love her. The life of every party, Jane was just as comfortable hosting a gathering as she was joining in, always ready with something to say. She could seamlessly engage in conversations on anything—from politics to sports, from books to travel, and everything in between. Her ability to connect with people was special, and she was the glue that brought everyone together. No matter the occasion, Jane made sure that everyone felt comfortable, welcomed, and included, effortlessly turning any gathering into something fun and memorable.

We will certainly miss her in our lives, but we are grateful for the memories she gave us and the impact she had on each of us. Her love, her energy, and her light will never be forgotten.

Jane is survived by her son, R. Skipper Divelbiss, daughter-in-law Tiffany Divelbiss, daughter Katie (Divelbiss) Clary, son-in-law Brian Clary, and grandchildren Penelope and Maxwell Clary. She also leaves behind a network of dear friends who offered her unwavering love and support throughout her life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Jane’s memory to two causes that were close to her heart: Donors Choose, www.donorschoose.org, an educational charity supporting teachers and students, and Tunnels to Towers, t2t.org, an organization dedicated to honoring and supporting first responders and veterans.

An in-person celebration of life is being planned in Arizona for mid-April 2025.