Obituary of Diane Joyce Kinzli

Diane Joyce Kinzli, 79, of Santa Cruz, was hugged into Heaven on January 28, 2018, surrounded by her loving family after an 18 month long fight with cancer. Her strength, courage and faith in God was an inspiration to all who knew and loved her. Diane was born Diane Joyce Neil, December 30, 1938 in Gilroy, California to the late Floyd Clifford and Laura Minerva Neil. The family, which included siblings Donna, Kenneth and Joan, settled into Menlo Park, California where Diane graduated from Menlo Atherton High School in 1956. It was in Redwood City during that time that she dedicated her life to Jesus Christ. She then went on to San Jose State where she majored in Advertising. Diane moved to Santa Cruz in 1959 to help her mom take care of her ill father. In 1960, while finishing college and working on Pacific Avenue at Santa Cruz Savings, she met her lifelong sweetheart, Ernie, who was working at the United Cigar Store. Diane graduated from San Jose State in May 1961 and she and Ernie were married July 8, 1961 at Twin Lakes Baptist Church. They had 2 children, Pam and Jeff and were regular members at Twin Lakes Church. In 1977, Diane and Ernie started their fly-fishing business, Ernie's Casting Pond on Soquel Avenue in East Santa Cruz. They later moved the store to Soquel in 1986. Throughout the 56 years of marriage they were never apart. They loved to go camping and fishing with their trailer to Burney, California when Pam and Jeff were kids. Later, Ernie and Diane enjoyed many hunting and fishing trips throughout the U.S. Diane loved to be with Ernie to fish and hunt and on occasion, she out fished Ernie!! They closed the store in 2008, after 31 happy and successful years in business. Their retirement years included many wonderful trips together and spending time with family in Santa Cruz, Colorado, Switzerland, Canada, Alaska and Hawaii. Diane was a devoted and beloved wife, mom and Oma who is greatly missed. Diane is survived by her husband of 56 years, Ernie Kinzli, of Santa Cruz, her children Jeff and Toni of Santa Cruz, Pam and Ken Sanderson of Meeker, Colorado, and grandsons Logan Sanderson of Knoxville, Tennessee and Grant Sanderson of Meeker, Colorado, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Philip and Suzanne Kinzli of Napa, California and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. A celebration of Diane's life will be held on Saturday, May, 12, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at Twin Lakes Church in Aptos, California. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes you to contribute to Hospice of Santa Cruz County or Twin Lakes Church. Proverbs 3: 5-6