Diane Marie Maixner (nee Gruener), 71, of Saint Louis, Missouri entered eternal rest on June 19, 2026. Diane was born in Saint Louis on April 24, 1955 to Robert J. (Emma, step-mother) and the late Marie J. Gruener. She was the eldest of three children, Stephen J. Gruener (Mary) who predeceased her and Jane M. Herod (William).
She attended Saint Francis of Assisi grade school, Notre Dame High School (class of 1973) and Saint Louis Community College. She worked for her father’s family business, Gruener Office Supplies, Inc. as the bookkeeper and after being taught those skills eventually took over the position when her grandmother, Edna Gruener, retired.
With a young family in tow, she decided to further her education by attending Lindenwood College. After receiving her degree, she sat for and passed the CPA exam. By then she was employed by her husband’s family business, Maixner, Maixner & Company CPAs, later Maixner LLC. Diane specialized in tax matters and tax resolution services. Her love of reading, intellect, and unquenched desire for knowledge served her well in her countless hours of research regarding highly technical matters. Diane’s career also included being an instructor at Saint Louis Community College and Maryville University teaching primarily upper-level tax courses.
After suffering life-changing medical issues in 2020 and being given virtually no chance of survival, she exhibited her strength, fighting spirit, and stubborn determination to beat the odds. Ultimately, the ordeal changed her life completely. She could no longer practice the profession she loved nor enjoy her favorite pastimes of reading a good book or riding her bike.
Not one to surrender, she reinvented herself by immersing in activities intended to help others. As a volunteer she was active in the Missouri Botanical Garden Therapeutic Horticulture Program visiting the elderly in retirement centers to teach about flowers and assisting the residents in creating their own floral arrangements. Diane also became a Court Appointed Special Advocate in Jefferson County championing the welfare of children in foster care. Further, she was active and found comfort in Saint Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness (SLOCA) as symptoms of ovarian cancer are often overlooked. Diane’s passion was extended to sepsis advocacy where she participated in study and support groups through the Sepsis Alliance. She did not want this to happen to anyone else and by her voice she hoped to be able to help keep others from this fate.
Diane’s greatest joy was her family. She found great pride in her children’s accomplishments and was happiest when surrounded by her grandchildren. Many free moments were spent anticipating the next family vacation.
Diane is survived by her husband of almost 50 years, Albert K. Maixner Sr., her children, Rachel D. Morris (Brian P.), Abigail K. Maixner-Eichberg (Brant T.), Albert K. Maixner, Jr. (Rae A.), and Alexander A.L. Maixner (Jessica N.). Her children truly believed she was a great mother, but an even better grandmother. She will be greatly missed by her dear grandchildren, Aurora M. Eichberg, Lawson A. Eichberg, Kennedy M. Maixner, Albert K. Maixner III, Alexander A.L. Maixner, Jr., Madelynn K. Maixner, and Carter J. Maixner, and her step-grandchildren Chelsea A. Morris, Tyler P. Morris (deceased), Brittany E. Morris, Ariana J. Eichberg and many other family and friends.
Services: Visitation at Kutis South County Chapel (5255 Lemay Ferry Road, Saint Louis, Missouri 63129), Friday, June 26, 2026 from 4:00-8:00pm. Funeral from Kutis South County Chapel, Saturday, June 27, 2026, 9:30am to Assumption Mattese Catholic Church (4725 Mattis Road, Saint Louis, Missouri 63128) for 10:00am mass. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Assumption Mattese Catholic Church, Black Madonna Shrine, Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness to honor Diane’s memory.
Gone too soon. You truly touched so many lives.
I miss you already❣️
Be at peace my angel and dear friend.
Julice
I will miss you forever. You are my BFF. We were going to be really cool old ladies😘
Diane,
You brought so much joy to so many people. I will miss you at the SLOCA luncheon. I just saw you in passing at church just recently. Healing prayers to all of the family.
Diane, such a beautiful soul. You shine so bright. Thank you for being so loving to my mother.
A great loss for all of us who knew her and appreciated her sharp intellect. I won’t forget our various calls to discuss tax theory and the weird world of Washington DC.
Loosing a friend that I have known for 57 years is not easy. Diane was an amazing person and as you can tell from reading her obituary that she touched so many lives and accomplished so much in her lifetime. I will miss her phone calls, our get togethers and especially our Christmas party with the ND girls. Peace my dear friend love you forever! 🩷
I am so sorry to hear this. Diane and I went to St. Francis of Assisi and. Notre Dame together. I am just so sad.
I am so sorry to hear this. Diane and I went to St. Francis of Assisi and. Notre Dame together. I am just so sad. We had so much growing up in Oakville together. She will be missed.
Diane,
It was a pleasure to have known you and shared stories with you. Diane became a part of our Sepsis Alliance family and was a joy to connect with – even through the tough times. You are a fighter and will be dearly missed by our community.
– Hailey
Rest in Peace Special Lady❣️🙏
Oh Diane. I’m so sorry to hear this. It was an honor to know you. As fellow sepsis survivors, we shared many personal thoughts and experiences. I’ll always remember your strength. Your Sepsis Alliance Connect family will miss you. Our prayers go out to your family and friends. You’ll be forever missed.
Al and Chris, I am so sorry for your loss.
I am sorry for everyone’s loss of Diane. I found her a strong advocate for the Sepsis Survivor community. It was honor to know her through her activities with Sepsis alliance. May she rest is peace.
I am saddened to learn of Diane’s passing. Her passing is truly a shock. We met at the Sepsis Alliance survivor meetings. Our experience with sepsis had a few similarities and her positivity and encouragement of me and others was so appreciated. I’m going to very much miss seeing her at our zoom meetings and I am ever grateful for the time we shared at meetings. It is a blessing to have met Diane.
Such an honor to have shared sepsis journeys with her. She was so inspirational to me. A wonderful soul and spirit. Sending prayers and warm thoughts to her family.
I volunteered with Diane through the Missouri botanical garden. Yesterday I went to the Town & Country facility where we work together for the last two years. Everyone there was so sad to hear the unexpected news.
I will certainly miss Diane and send my love and prayers to her family
It was really hard to hear Diane passed 😢 Diane came to my house as a Casa worker and she got really close with the kido. He always smiled when seeing Diane because she was always bringing him something, rather it was a book or game! She enjoyed spending time with him! Diane is going to be so missed and I will miss our conversations 😢 Rest in peace 🙏 my friend.
I met Diane through CASA. She was loved by our girls. She was always ready to help our cause. I loved her staying and just talking with us. She was so full of life. Our family is sad and sorry for the loss to her family. She talked about her kids and grandkids with love. We will miss her and keep her family in our prayers.
Praying God Console and Comfort all your loved ones at this trying period. From the messages above, you must have been a Loving and Caring person. Sepsis Alliance community, do accept my condolences.
Al & Family-
Our deepest sympathy on the loss of your dear Wife, Mom & Grandma. It has been awhile, but we always enjoyed running into each other at mass at Assumption. Diane always had a big smile and was just such a beautiful person inside & out. Our sons, Albert & Jeff, went to Kindergarten together, where we had gotten to know each other better many years ago, through play dates and the Mothers Club. Your family will be in our prayers at this most difficult time. May Diane Rest in Peace.