Dana Lea Steslow

Dana Lea Steslow, 85, of Kailua, Hawaii, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2025, surrounded by her husband and daughter and the sound of Hawaiian music.

Born in Kansas on June 21, 1940, to Elmer and Evelyn LoRee Walters, Dana spent most of her childhood in Washington State. She moved to Oahu in 1961 after marrying her high school boyfriend, Richard "Bud" Bartley. Her first chapter in Hawaii was spent helping to run the family retail clothing business, Bartley's Town and Country Shops. Her second chapter began when she went to work as a bookkeeper after Bud's passing (1987) and closing the family business. She soon found love again with John Steslow. They married on July 4, 1991, and started a tax and accounting business together where Dana played a pivotal role in building client relationships with her dry wit and ability to make everyone feel important.

Dana was an indoor-loving person who enjoyed books, crossword puzzles and her iPad. Family could always count on a birthday song, even though the cards arrived fashionably late every year.

She is survived by her husband, John; daughter, Susann (Don); two grandchildren, Sarah (Robbie) and Michael (Ali); and her extended hanai family across the islands.

A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Donations may be made to Hawaii Public Radio in her honor at:

https://members.hawaiipublicradio.org/

Dana taught us how to both take and make jokes, to say what we mean and to always remember to iron your denim. She will be missed more than words can say.