Diana Renner

Diana M Renner, age 83, passed away peacefully on March 28, 2017 in Madison. Diana was born in Auburn, Indiana, the daughter of Harry and Ruth Stewart Messenger. Diana was a loving and devoted wife and a caring and supportive mother.

Diana graduated from Auburn High School and attended Katherine Gibbs and Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA). She talked especially about her years at Wellesley with great fondness. During her college years, Diana studied and traveled abroad in Europe.

Diana married John H. Renner in 1954. Together they moved to Washington, DC, and while John went to medical school, Diana worked as an executive secretary at George Washington University. Upon graduation they began their family and moved to Herndon, Virginia. John's first job was a small rural general practice and the family home was across the street. Diana began a new Montessori school in Herndon and converted the basement of their house into a classroom for two years until the new school was built.

In 1970, John and Diana and their children, Andrea and Craig, moved from Herndon to Madison, WI where John helped found the UW Department of Family Medicine. In 1980, John's career took them to Kansas City, where they lived for 20 years. They enjoyed socializing with friends and colleagues, traveling, gardening, feeding the birds, and of course, the companionship of their four-legged friends. Following Johns death, Diana returned to Madison.

Along with her roles as a devoted wife and mother, Diana worked as an administrative assistant, was active in Scouts, and was a member of the St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary in Madison and Kansas City.

Diana was a loving and enthusiastic mother and made sure her children had every opportunity to participate in school and community activities, theatre, sports, boating, and camping. Diana enjoyed singing and playing the piano, bird watching, gardening, and being outdoors. In her later years, she loved spending time with her grandchildren, and visiting Olbrich Gardens, and the Arboretum.

Survivors include son Craig (Lynn) Renner of Madison WI, and Andrea (Jody) Renner Simon of Los Angeles CA, and grandchildren David, Sophie, Jonathan and Joseph. Diana is preceded in death by her husband John H Renner, M.D.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the National Audubon Society are appreciated. Diana was a life-long bird- enthusiast and as a child would wake up early to go birding and knew many bird calls.

Cress Center
6021 University Ave.
Madison, WI 53705
608-238-8406