Diana Wise

1937 - 2025

Diana Wise
Born: May 27, 1937 in Mendota, IL
Died: August 21, 2025 in Dixon, IL
Diana Louise Wise, 88 of Dixon, IL (formerly of Mendota) passed away peacefully on the 21st of August, 2025 at Heritage Square of Dixon. Diana was born at Mendota Community Hospital on May 27, 1937 to the late James C. and Margaret (Kennedy) Prentice. Diana married her beloved husband, Adelbert "Bert" Wise, on May 1, 1954 at First United Methodist Church in Paw Paw, IL. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in May 2019 just prior to Bert's passing that August.
Diana attended Paw Paw High School and worked outside the home while waiting for Bert to return home from Korea, serving in the Army. After they married, she stayed home raising their four children. She enjoyed attending all the sports events that Bert, her sons and grandsons participated in over the years, some of which Bert coached.
Diana was an excellent seamstress, creating tiny dresses for the Toddler Shop in Mendota, making clothes for her daughter, daughters-in-law, grandsons and granddaughters, and creating home furnishings on her sewing machine. She enjoyed playing her Hammond organ, baking, knitting, quilting, crafting, walking, growing succulents and African violets, caring for her grandchildren and her two teacup poodles, Misty and Muffin. Diana also enjoyed helping Bert at M & E TV, and also worked at Hardin's Variety Store and Pohl's Office Supply. She became a member of the United Methodist Church upon her marriage to Bert and remained a member of First United Methodist Church in Mendota for 60 years.
Survivors include their four children: Michael Wise (Debra) of Morton; Jody D. Mitchell (Timothy) of Dixon and Murray, KY; Mark A. Wise (Jo) of Queen Creek, AZ; and Scott W. Wise (Beth) of Dixon, 14 grandchildren: Aaron Wise (Emily); Jenny O'Dowd (Brian); Kyle Wise (Alejandra); Ashley O'Brien Roux (Nathan); Cooper and Keaton O'Brien; Grace Mitchell; Jared Wise (Tammy); Nicholas Wise (Nicole); Garrett Wise (Rachel); Cale Wise; Maren Wise; Kyle Mitchell (Katie); and Cayli Mitchell, 9 great-grandchildren: Madeline and Maya Wise, Kaitlyn and Allison O'Dowd, Maddison and Carly Roux, and Dean, Nolan and Gemma Mitchell.
Diana is preceded in death by her late husband, Bert Wise; her sisters Dixie Johnston and Donna Lunardon; and her brothers James and Harry Prentice, as well as her parents.
Visitation will be from 9:00 – 11:00AM Tuesday, August 26, at the Horner-Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota with funeral services following at 11:00AM. Diana's son-in-law, the Rev. Dr. Timothy Mitchell, will be officiating. Interment will follow the services at Restland Cemetery, Mendota.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Heritage Square in Dixon and In Home Care Connection Hospice. Memorials can be sent "in care of Horner-Merritt Funeral Home", 800 Monroe Street, Mendota, IL 61342.