Diane E. Hanson

Diane E. Hanson, age 82, completed her earthly journey peacefully at home on January 28, 2020.
Diane was born on May 7, 1937 in Reedsburg, Wis. to Edward and Edith (Holtz) Davis. She graduated from Webb High School in 1955. She received a Bachelor's degree in home economics education from UW-Stout in 1959 and a Master's degree in child development from the University of Arizona in 1960. She went to Michigan State University in 1960 to be the supervising teacher in the campus laboratory pre-school and an instructor in child development. At MSU Diane met her future husband, Ernest Hanson, who was a doctoral student in accounting and business. They were married on September 9, 1961 and moved to Madison in 1965 where their son Keith was born that fall.
Diane was an active and vigorous participant in life. She pursued her interests with passion and commitment. Those interests included, at various stages of her adult life, tennis, running, cycling, hiking, collecting French perfume bottles from the 1940s and 1950s, crafting with felt, attending live theater with her husband and taking exercise classes, first at the YMCA and later at UW Health Sports Medicine Fitness Center. For twenty-seven years she was a self- employed seamstress and drapery maker. Three life-long passions were reading, cooking and gardening. She was a voracious reader, often reading two or three books concurrently. She delighted friends and family with exquisite meals. They loved her special caramel candies. Gardening permitted Diane to be close with nature, which restored and fed her soul. She loved to design (and re-design) her home's landscape.
Diane was preceded in death by her parents and a beloved brother, Dr. David Lee Davis.
She is survived by her husband Ernest, son Keith of Reno, Nevada, a sister and brother-in-law Sue and Colin Webster of Marshfield, Wis./The Villages, Florida and a sister-in-law and love, Barbara Davis of Lima, Ohio.
Per Diane's wishes there will be no visitation nor funeral service. Memories and condolences may be left at informedchoicefunerals.com. Memorial contributions may be sent to Baraboo Range Preservation Association, P. O. Box 205, Baraboo, WI 53913.