Diane Iverson

DIANE M. IVERSON ascended October 26, 2023 in Casa Grande, AZ at the age of 75. She was born in Madison, WI to Joseph Carl Iverson and Elsie Grace (Williams) Iverson, who preceded her in death.  She is survived by her brother James Iverson (Shirley Schenning), nieces Kari Iverson, Ellen Koopman, and their mother Sally Wolf, grandnephew Kyle Iverson, grandnieces Annabelle and Madeline Koopman, along with many wonderful cousins and worldwide friends.

Diane was a graduate of Madison East High School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BA in Psychology.  She lived for many years in Milwaukee where she obtained certification and worked as a probate and trust paralegal while taking graduate studies in social work and health care administration at Marquette University.  During this time Diane was introduced to the Baha’i Faith and registered as a Baha’i in March of 1982.

Diane worked for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the U.S. in Wilmette, IL from 1985-1987, first at the Publishing Trust and then in the Office of Persian/American Affairs Refugee Program, and at Green Acre Baha’i School in Eliot, ME from 1987-1990 and then again from 1996-2003.

With her move to Eliot in 1987, Diane discovered an intricate process of the codification of the Baha’i Writings (a Master Index to the Worlds of God) begun in 1956 by librarian, Marian Crist Lippitt and the National Reference Library Committee.  Diane was intrigued and dedicated a huge portion of her life to making sure Marian’s work on developing a schematic of Reality (a chart depiction of the three levels of awareness and associated behavior) would be protected and preserved “providing a bridge from the mind to the heart.”  As a result of her dedication, she co-founded in 1993 the Foundation for the Investigation of Reality (FIR), an organization dedicated to personal transformation and a wholistic view of all of creation as well as further development of the ideas comprising The Worlds of God material.

By Diane’s efforts and quest for personal transformation and through the persistence of members of FIR, Lippitt’s thousands of handwritten index cards have been digitized and preserved for posterity’s investigation of reality.  Through the study of Lippitt’s work Diane, along with Ronnie Tomanio and Phyllis Ring, co-authored WITH THINE OWN EYES (George Ronald Publications), a text designed to guide readers in the study of spiritual reality and the three conditions of existence, exploring the process and pitfalls as well as the fulfillment encountered along the way.

In 2006 Diane moved to Bisbee, AZ and shortly afterward to Desert Rose Baha’i Institute in Eloy, AZ which became her home until her recent illness and passing.  Although confronted with health challenges throughout her life, she persevered in her studies and research as she “sought a way to release human potential.”  Over the years, she rendered service to others and to the Baha’i community in many capacities including nutrition advocate, researcher, book review consultant, travel teacher, workshop facilitator, Spiritual Assembly secretary; Ruhi Book facilitator; and DRBI Board secretary, Program Committee member, and program presenter. 

Her brilliant mind and unquestioned dedication to the Faith of Baha’u’llah informed all the endeavors of her life.  She will be remembered and missed by many friends worldwide.

Diane Iverson will be interred on Monday, November 6 at 11am at Desert Rose Baha’i Institute, Memorial Gardens, on Alai Drive, Eloy, AZ followed by repast and remembrances in the Round House.

In lieu of flowers please honor Diane’s memory with a tax-deductible contribution to Desert Rose Baha’i Institute. (drbi.org)