Jan. 2, 2019 – Kewaskum, WI – Diane June (Otto) Sleger, 85, went to Heaven on December 30, 2018 after a year of medical challenges. Born on July 3, 1933, she was the oldest child of Harry and Mabel (Grosskopf) Otto of rural Gresham, WI.
Diane was married 65 years to Edward J. Sleger, Jr., a math and physics teacher at Kewaskum High School, whom she married August 19, 1953. They lived in rural Kewaskum, WI, for 54 years and recently resided at Kettle Moraine Gardens in Kewaskum.
Together, Diane and Ed raised 10 children: Edward J. 3rd (Patty), Helena Joy Kaiser, Jonathon (Val), Mark, Constance (Scott Giles), Renee (Daniel Boehm, deceased), David (Karen, deceased), Patricia, Robert, and Mary (John Murphy).
Diane loved babies and enjoyed family gatherings with her 16 grandchildren: Emily and Annie; Joshua Kaiser; Hannah, Gareth, and Aaron; Clair and Andy; David Boehm; Maggie, Kate, Anne, June, and Frannie; Grace and Jack Murphy; and 3 great-grandchildren: Isabella, Wyatt, and Isabelle.
A farm girl, Diane “Danny” drove the tractor at age 10, and since then, never shied away from hard work, logging in many hours gardening, canning, sewing, and goat-farming. She found joy in her flowers and crafting. In later years, Diane assembled family history photo albums for each of her 10 children. She was renowned for her jams, jellies, and baking.
Cut from the cloth of her German-immigrant ancestors, Diane dealt with life’s challenges in a no-nonsense and thrifty manner and was a pretty good shot with a rifle, to boot. Diane was fearless and once saved her eldest daughter from a charging bull. She logged many hours teaching her kids to drive and survived several minor auto accidents in the process!
Diane followed her faith in God wherever He led her. During her formative years she was a member of Elias Lutheran Church in Gresham. She reared her children in the Catholic faith at Holy Trinity and St. Michael’s Churches in Kewaskum. As an empty-nester, she and Ed joined Campbellsport Alliance Church where she served as Deaconess. She volunteered in each faith community, serving dinners, sewing Christmas stockings, and enjoying fellowship.
In addition to her parents, Diane was preceded in death by her sister Carol (Butch, deceased) Hoffman. She leaves behind her sister Iris (Jerry) Bents and 4 brothers, Dale (Lisa), Timothy, Stan (Clara, deceased), and Bruce Otto.
Funeral services for Diane will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 12, 2019, at Campbellsport Alliance Church, N1876 Co Rd V, Campbellsport, WI 53010. The family will greet relatives and friends at Alliance Church on Saturday from noon until the time of service.
Burial will be at Ledgeview Memorial Park, Veteran’s Garden of Valor, N6250 Co Rd K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937 on Monday, January 14 at 2pm.
The family would like to extend love and appreciation to Pastor Doug and Jean Birr and Reverend Joseph Brath for their friendship and ministry to Diane, and to the nurses and staff at Kettle Moraine Gardens, ComForCare, and Aurora At Home Hospice for all their help, love, and care.
The Myrhum Patten Miller & Kietzer Funeral Home has been entrusted with Diane’s arrangements.
