Dr. Diane Tobin Johnson (Goodman)

Dr. Diane Tobin Johnson (Goodman), associate professor of communication emerita at Truman State University, (79), died Monday, September 21, 2026 at home in Kirksville. She was born on April 22, 1947, in Sidney, Nebraska, the oldest daughter of Carolyn Victoria (Pritchard) and Gordon Raymond Tobin. One brother, Robert, predeceased her; she is survived by two sisters, Eileen Dinneen (John) of Cheyenne Wyoming, and Janice Bowzer (Jim) of Windsor, Colorado; her stepdaughter Sara Elsea (Ryan) of Kirksville and stepson Dr. Andrew Goodman of Murray, Utah; as well as grandchildren Alicen Elsea of Kirksville, Emma Elsea (Tanner Schilling) of Kirksville, and Anna Elsea of Kirksville. Nieces and nephews include: Ryan Dinneen O’Neil (Sean) of Laramie; Tom Dinneen (Adina Johnson) of Denver; Elizabeth Dinneen (Jimmy Fisco) of Nashville; Laura Bowzer Arentsen (Matthew) of Lafayette, Colorado; and Kyle Bowzer (Kristen) of Midland, Texas. Great nieces and nephews include Mae and Bea O’Neil, Daniel Arentsen, and Hudson and Hallie Bowzer. 

Diane attended the University of San Francisco in the 1960s, and received her bachelor’s degree from the University without Walls program at Loretto Heights College (Denver) in 1975. She earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of Iowa in 1982. She developed nonprofit marketing skills in regional public library systems in Maryland, Minnesota, Colorado, and Washington, and worked as a statewide public library development consultant for the Colorado State Library and for the Washington State Library. She also worked for the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Library (Md), the Lake Agassiz Regional Library (Mn), and Timberland Regional Library (Wa). She developed additional training and coaching skills in freelance work for public libraries and state libraries in California, Idaho, Mississippi, and Texas. She loved working with librarians and their clients. Some of her best vacations were spent with librarian friends Bob and Ellen in beach rentals with stacks of books, lots of visits to coffee shops and bookstores, and board games long into the night.

 In the 1980’s, her interests expanded to include conflict resolution, building cooperative relationships between multiple government entities in local areas, and the importance of individual belief systems and their impact on cooperative efforts. By the mid-1990’s, she had decided to seek a Ph.D. in communication at the University of Missouri. She completed a three-year study of two large churches and their activities around health concepts. Her thesis, “Bringing the Body Into the Church: Constructing Health Ministry in Community” was published in 2005. 

Diane married Robert Johnson in Denver in September 1975; they divorced in 1983. She married Dennis Goodman in Kirksville in 2016. She enjoyed spending time with family and students, as well as attending the many cultural events provided by Truman State University Arts and Music departments. She had a deep interest in public health, social justice, and the life of communities in general.

In Kirksville, she was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church, University Extension Kirksville Area Master Gardeners, PEO Chapter IG, Adair County Friends of the Library and the Library Book Club, and was a supporter of several other local organizations, including Hospice of Northeast Missouri. She also served on the board of Victim Support Services for several years. At Truman she served on the Faculty Senate, coordinated the Truman in Washington program, sponsored a public relations club, and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi. She enjoyed the students who worked with her in and out of the classroom and loved working with her colleagues, even when doing so involved committee work. 

She was fond of dogs and cats, and the Humane Society of Northeast Missouri who helped her find forever homes for cats and kittens who had found their way to her. She loved to bake, especially for coffee hour at church, and enjoyed finding new recipes to try. 

Services planned include: Visitation on Friday, October 9, 2026 from 5-7 pm at Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel; funeral on Saturday, 10 am at Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel with reception afterward. Rev. Carrol Davenport and Rev. Dr. Maria Evans will preside. Those wishing to make donations in her memory may designate the Gordon R. Tobin Jazz Piano Scholarship at Truman State University, Pantry for Adair County, or the Adair County Public Library.