Diane Siddons
When Diane Siddons thought about retirement, she knew how she wanted to spend her time.
“I said to myself, I’m going to do something for myself, something for family, something for my faith and something for the community,” she remembers.
While finishing her career at St. Charles School, she knew fellow teachers Deb Shishman and Amy Mooney. Not exactly understanding the sorority aspect of Tri Kappa, Diane marched right up to Deb and announced she would like to become a member.
“I told Deb I wanted to join Tri Kappa,” Diane laughs. “I didn’t know how it worked! I thought I could just join!”
Deb did the behind-the-scenes work and sponsored Diane for membership.
Born in Jeffersonville, Diane moved with her family to Bloomington when she was 10 years old. She attended Bloomington North, then studied at Vincennes University, Ball State and Indiana University, where she attained her elementary- and special-education degrees. She taught school for 40 years.
Diane worked early on at the DePaul School here. Her husband, Karl Zacker, was the principal. Friends wanted to set them up.
“I needed a job way more than I needed a boyfriend,” Diane laughs.
When Karl took a different job, they started dating. Karl has two adopted children from Bogota, Colombia: Garrett and Olivia. Now Diane and Karl enjoy spending time with their grandchildren, Olivia’s kids Sophia and Miles. Diane likes doing “teachery” activities with them, like crafts, reading and baking.
Due to her background in education, Diane loves the scholarships Tri Kappa awards to high school seniors each spring.
“We’re raising money to help young people be a better version of themselves with our scholarships,” Diane says. “I think it’s important that they have a support system, that they know there is money there to help them with their future studies.”
Diane enjoys spending her spare time gardening and volunteering at St. Charles Catholic Church, where she uses her teaching skills to lead the children’s liturgy a couple times a year. She and her husband like to travel and attend summer-theater productions.
Her happy place, however, is doing for others.
“True happiness is when you’re doing something for someone else. That’s why I joined Tri Kappa,” Diane says. “I like that feeling that you get from helping someone. It’s long-lasting when you feel like you’ve made a difference.
More About Diane:
Takes Jazzercize classes because she loves to dance and exercise
Like to read about history and visit historical places
Is outdoorsy and loves hiking
Helped out for years with the Monroe County fifth-graders’ trip to Bradford Woods
Was on the swim team at Bloomington North, Vincennes and Ball State