Monday, June 1st, 2026
Karen Diffie
The world grew a little quieter on April 22, 2026, when Karen Jean (Westerbeck) Diffie, 79, of Las Vegas, Nevada, slipped peacefully from this life, held close by her loving family. She was born on October 20, 1946, in New Bremen, Ohio - a small town that shaped her early years but could never contain the size of her dreams.
At 18, with courage far beyond her age, Karen set out into the world. She left Ohio for California, chasing possibility and sunlight. There she met & married James "Jim" Diffie, the father of her beloved girls. After a brief time in Arizona, the family relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1973. Although she & Jim parted ways, Vegas would remain her home. For over 50 years, the desert city became the backdrop to her remarkable life - a place where her independence, her fire, and her unmistakable presence fit perfectly.
Karen moved through the world with a quick wit and a spark that drew every eye the moment she entered a room. She was smart, artistic, and endlessly caring. There was a movie-star beauty about her - not just in appearance, but in the way she carried herself, the way she laughed, the way she lived. She was full of life, strong in spirit, and unafraid to stand on her own.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Rita Westerbeck; and her brothers, Jim Westerbeck and Mike Westerbeck.
She leaves behind the love of her life, Michael Tinney; her daughters, Tammie Hampton and Shannon Dunmire; and her grandchildren, Brandon Hampton, Logan Hampton, Billy Dunmire, and Lacey Dunmire, all in Las Vegas, NV.
She is also survived by her siblings Susan (Ron, deceased) Snyder, Minster, OH; Nancy (Terry Pohlman) Muether, Celina, OH; Rebecca (Ned) Vordermark, New Knoxville, OH; Mary (Jerry) Smith, New Knoxville, OH; Teresa (David) Legg, Saginaw, MI; Donna (Bill) Woehrmyer, New Bremen, OH; Richard (Karen) Westerbeck, New Knoxville, OH; and Ralph (Judy) Westerbeck, Sodus, NY.
She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and many loving friends whose lives were brightened by her presence.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the home of Bill and Donna Woehrmyer, 233 East Monroe St., New Bremen, Ohio, @ 4:30pm on June 13, 2026.
Karen's family and friends will remember her as a woman of strength, humor, beauty, and heart- someone who lived boldly, loved deeply, and left the world brighter than she found it.
