Diane Marie Nikunen

Diane Nikunen, Aug. 11, 1945 – Sep. 24, 2025

Diane, “the Little Finn,” Nikunen passed away in the early morning hours of September 24, 2025, from cancer and a stroke at her home in Rushford, MN. Proud of her Finnish heritage, she lived a life of Sisu, a Finnish term that embodies determination, courage, and resilience. It represents a unique quality of extraordinary perseverance in the face of adversity and challenges, reflecting a cultural characteristic of Finland that symbolizes inner strength and the ability to move forward despite obstacles.

Diane Marie Nikunen was born in Soudan, MN, on August 11, 1945, to John and Selina (Hendrickson) Nikunen. After graduating from Tower Soudan High School, she continued her education at the University of Minnesota Duluth, earning her teaching degree in physical education in 1968. That fall, Diane was hired as a physical education teacher, health teacher, cheerleading advisor, and in charge of the Girls Athletic Association program in the Kenyon Public School District. She would spend her entire career as an educator at Kenyon.

With the advent of Title IX in 1972, Diane was one of the pioneers of moving girls’ sports from intramurals to competitive interscholastic sports.

In the first few years following the passage of Title IX, she served as the coach for track and field, basketball, and volleyball. Over the years, Niki, as her players fondly called her, was able to focus solely on coaching volleyball.

Diane led the Kenyon and Kenyon-Wanamingo volleyball teams for eighteen seasons, compiling a 326-74 record that included eleven conference titles, appearances in every District 4 Championship game, winning twelve times, and representing Region 1 in the 1975, 1979, 1986, and 1988 State Tournaments.

Following the 1982 season, she was named the first Region 1 Class A Coach of the Year. In honor of Niki, Minnesota Governor Arnie Carlson declared May 17, 1991, Diane Nikunen Day in Minnesota. Nikunen was inducted into the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2003. At the 2009 National Girls and Women’s Sports Day, Diane received the Breaking Barrier Award in recognition of her work in establishing girls’ interscholastic sports. In 2015, she was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Kenyon-Wanamingo Hall of Fame.

For all her success as a coach, it is her passion for teaching physical education that will be remembered by many students, who will recall her introducing them to a variety of physical activities, including cross-country skiing and canoeing.

After retiring from teaching, Diane moved to Rushford, MN, where she has lived the last twenty-five years during the warm weather months while wintering in Palmview, TX.

A significant event in her life occurred when she made lifelong vows of profession to the Secular Order of Franciscans.

Diane Nikunen is survived by her brother, John Nikunen, and sisters, Sue (Jack) Knauer and Kathy (Ben) Gentilini of Virginia, MN; nephew, Jeffery Knauer; niece, Nancy (Laura) Knauer; and close friends, Joellen Bingaman and Sandy Rumstick of Rushford, MN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Lucille, and sister-in-law, Dolores Nikunen.

A graveside service will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Rushford, MN, on Monday, September 29, at 9:45 a.m., with a social time to follow.

Memorials may be designated to the Kenyon-Wanamingo Athletic Department or the American Cancer Society.

A special thank you is given to the St. Croix Care Hospice Team, to neighbors, and Diane’s former students who reached out during her last days.