Celebrating the Life of Dianne Muth

With deep sorrow, Kolbe Academy announces the passing of its Co-Founder Dianne Muth, on February 17, 2023.

In 1980, Dianne and her husband Jerry were one of the three founding couples of Kolbe Academy, an independent Catholic school in Napa, California. Soon afterwards, Kolbe Academy grew into a support of Catholic homeschooling students worldwide.

Dianne was a pioneer in the field of education, and her passion for phonics led her to write the Ignatius Speaks and Writes English program, which is used in Kolbe Academy's homeschool program for first and second grade. She was currently working on the third-grade edition. Dianne also authored the Kolbe Academy guides to the Catholic National Reader and played a crucial role in preparing the daily lesson plans for many subjects in Kolbe's grade school program.

Dianne was a dedicated wife and mother. She and Jerry successfully raised ten children, three of whom graduated from Kolbe Academy’s Day school. They also had 45 grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren.

Chris Rowles, grandson and COO of Kolbe Academy, shared, “On behalf of all the employees of Kolbe Academy, I want to acknowledge Dianne’s invaluable contributions to the educational and spiritual foundations of thousands of students. Her legacy at Kolbe Academy lives on through our faith-driven mission and our commitment to our students, our families, and the communities we serve.”  

Dianne Muth’s legacy at Kolbe Academy will continue to inspire future generations of educators and homeschoolers. Her unwavering dedication to her students and her commitment to excellence will always be remembered.

Celebration of Life

The family welcomes friends to Dianne’s rosary at 3:30pm on March 15, 2023 at Tulocay Cemetery, with visitation beginning at 2:00pm. Her funeral mass will be at 10:00am on March 16, 2023 at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Yountville, CA.

Watch the livestream of the mass here: https://youtube.com/live/oZk535u2_6E?feature=share

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Dianne to:  

Kolbe Academy (1600 F Street, Napa, CA 94559)
St. Joan of Arc Parish (6404 Washington St., Yountville, CA 94599).

The Kolbe Academy community extends its deepest sympathies to the Muth family and asks for prayers for the repose of Dianne's soul.

Blog Post written by:

Kolbe Staff

Kolbe Staff