Diane Echelbarger

Stoughton- Diane Marie Echelbarger died February 9, 2012 at Agrace HospiceCare, Fitchburg. She was born August 6, 1959 to Dale C. and Pauline (Callahan) Echelbarger in Seattle, Washington. Growing up in Lynwood, WA, she was surrounded by a large family, including 32 cousins. She graduated from Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA with a B.A. in chemistry. While living in Washington, she enjoyed camping in the Cascades, the Society for Creative Anachronism, and cooking. Invited by friends to visit Wisconsin, she fell in love with the Madison area and stayed for the rest of her life. She worked as a disability examiner for the State of Wisconsin. Diane was a tall ship aficionado, a knitter, a kayaker, a birder, and a costumer. She enjoyed reading, especially science fiction and mysteries (and wrote good fanfic). In recent years, she was an active member of the Yahara River Grocery Cooperative, the crew of the Denis Sullivan, and Democracy Addicts and deeply involved in restoring her late-Victorian home in Stoughton. She is survived by her sister, Karen (Jim) Watson of Brier, WA; her nephews and nieces, Joshua Watson, Dale Watson, and Renee Echelbarger of Brier, WA, Eric (Crystal) Echelbarger of Everett, WA and Carrie (Rick) Echelbarger-Thompson and one great-niece Savannah Echelbarger-Thompson of Lynwood, WA. She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Dana Echelbarger. A celebration of Diane's life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at the Cress Funeral Home, 206 W. Prospect Street, Stoughton. Her family wishes to thank the caring and devoted staff of the hospice and Diane's devoted friends, Ingrid Moser, Mariah Clark, and the Weston family for their support. Memorials may be made to Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg, WI or to the Friends of the Denis Sullivan, 500 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53202.