Diane Schallert

1937 - 2021

Schallert, Diane Carol

MADISON - Diane Carol Jean (Todish) Schallert, 83, passed away on April 9, 2021, at St. Mary's Hospital, of natural causes after a struggle with dementia.

Diane was born Dec. 21, 1937, in Menominee, Mich., to Gallerd and Bernice Todish. She had two sisters, Kay and Suzanne, and brother Thomas followed. She moved with her family to Racine, Wis., in 1947 and attended Howell Elementary, Mitchell Jr. High and Washington Park High School. Her senior year she met a handsome football player, Raymond "Dale" Schallert. They both graduated in the spring of 1956. Diane entered St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing and graduated as RN in 1959. In January 1960 she and Dale married at St. Edward's Church in Racine, Wis.

Her first position was staff nurse with University of Wisconsin Hospital. She continued her professional career and education throughout the Midwest: St. Mary's Hospital in Stevens Point, Wis., Waukegan Illinois Hospital, Mendota State Psych Department, and Wausau Wisconsin Hospital. While in Wausau she earned her bachelor's degree in nursing followed by her master's degree. From there she went to SSM Quality Development in St. Louis, Mo. She retired in 2004 from MetaStar Inc. in Madison, Wis., where she worked in Quality Healthcare Development. She developed QA QM QI (Quality Assurance, Quality Management, Quality Improvement) programs. She held member and leadership positions in National Quality Nursing, CPHQ Development and training groups. Her nursing career allowed for her loving personality, concern, and attention to exact detail to guide the way. She held a passion for caring for others.

Diane completed all of this while raising her family, sons, David, Darren and Daniel. She loved to go camping on lakes all over Wisconsin. She boated, canoed, sailed, swam, and water skied. They were tent campers until she bought a camper on the same day as her husband did too without knowing! She was a leader, a thinker, great writer and speaker. Once she tagged along deer "viewing" of course and saw all the deer while her husband saw none. She was a great traveler, from coast to coast and Canada to Mexico. She loved walking on the Florida beaches with Dale.

Diane is survived by her loving husband, Dale, of 61 years; her sons, David, Darren (Pamela) and Daniel (Kristie); her grandchildren, Katty, Dustin, Devin, and twins, Emme and Lauren; her brother-in-law, Pat Goder; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gallerd and Bernice; her sister, Sue Goder; sister, Kay Mulvey; and brother-in-law, Mel Mulvey.