Diane Ahrens of West Dundee, Ilinois was elected to the office of President of the Department of Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary on 7 June 2025 in Springfield, Illinois.

Diane joined as a life member of Auxiliary 2298 under the eligibility of her husband Roger W. Ahrens, December 2011. Roger and Diane served in the Marine Corps: they met at Parris Island Recruit Base where Roger was a Senior Drill Instructor and Diane served as Military Police. Roger had served in Vietnam in 1968 right out of high school and again for the pull out in 1975.

June 2011 Diane and Roger received the VFW Humanitarian award for the thousands of pounds of cookies shipped to the troops in harms way. They began shipping monthly from their bakery in 2004 and continued until they closed in December 2019. This project was called Operation Sweet Tooth.

Diane served as President Auxiliary 2298 from 2014-2018. District 5 President from 2018-2022. June of 2020 she was elected to the office of Department Guard for Illinois and began her journey through the chairs. Diane served as VAVS deputy at Hines VA for several years. When the 2298 President she started Woman Veteran Baby Showers. Then partnered with James Lovell FHCC, Jesse Brown VA, and Hines VA in addition to hosting baby showers through the Auxiliary in Dundee, they supported the hospitals to host their own showers and helped provide car seats and pack and plays for the Veterans. They recently hosted their 9th annual shower and served over 250 woman veterans through this program. 

Diane began Operation Sweet Life, Inc. May 2021 which receives, stores and provides gently used furniture and household items for Veterans transitioning from homelessness. Diane operates a 5200 square foot warehouse in Elgin, Illinois. Operation Sweet Life collaborates with the VA HUD/VASH system and Midwest shelter for Homeless Veterans when they have acquired a place for the Veteran, they request furniture, send the moving company, they pickup and deliver and setup the furniture and create their "Home Sweet Home".

Diane has 4 adult children and 9 grandchildren and many "adopted families", that make her life sweet.