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In Memoriam: Celebrating the life of Shirley Dieker ’80

Shirley J. (Clegg) Dieker ’80 held many things close to her heart: family, friends, travel, bears, shoes, baking, chocolates, shopping, red wine, reading, her hometown of Wichita — and Wichita State.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business education from WSU, where she was an active member of Alpha Phi Sorority, Dieker went on to a career in information technology as a manager and director with several organizations based in Wichita, including Farm Credit Bank, Newman University, Fidelity Bank, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas.

Her volunteer involvements included serving as half of a Big Couple to a Little Brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters and working with the Girl Scouts of America. Her participation with the latter organization led to her being recognized with both the Girl Scouts of the Golden Plains Volunteer of Excellence Award and the Girl Scouts of the Golden Plains Treasured Time Award.

As a student at Wichita State, she worked in the business education department, was a member of the business ed honor society Pi Omega Pi, the Spanish honor society Sigma Delta Pi and was on the WSU women’s rowing team. Her first experience on campus with Greek life was as a Little Sister to the fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon, which led her into involvement with Alpha Phi. One of her favorite college experiences, she has said, was being a sorority sister and living in the sorority house.

Dieker maintained lifelong connections with Alpha Phi and her alma mater. As a Shocker graduate, she served as an Alpha Phi alumnae chapter officer, board member, volunteer and advisor, and was applauded for her efforts with the sorority’s Michaelanean Award, which is presented for outstanding loyalty and “continuous devotion” to Alpha Phi, serving on the local level. In 2015, she set up the Shirley J. Dieker Scholarship Endowed Fund with the purpose of assisting deserving students who are members of Alpha Phi pursue their educational goals. Her advice to college-bound students was always to get involved, whether that was in Greek life, sports, student groups, band — whatever was of interest to them.

In 2024, Shirley and her husband, Denis ’77/80, were named recipients of the Fairmount Founders’ Award for their long-time support of Wichita State. The Diekers, who married in 1983 and have two children, Joseph and Margaret, are especially noted for their support of alumni-engagement activities, Greek life, Shocker Athletics, KMUW and the Barton School of Business.

Shirley Dieker — wife, mother, grandmother, friend and proud Shocker — died December 25, 2024 in Olathe, Kansas.

Memorial donations can be made to the Shirley J. Dieker Scholarship through the WSUFAE.