Diane M. Vesely (nee Pulvermacher)

PORTAGE - Diane M. Vesely (nee Pulvermacher), age 67, of Portage died after an 11 year battle with lymphoma  on Tuesday morning, February 16, 2010 with family members by her side.

Diane was born on June 5, 1942 in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, the daughter of Gilbert and Alta “Honey” (Flagg) Pulvermacher.  After graduating from Prairie du Sac High School in 1960, Diane received her
Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse.  Diane was united in marriage on August 6, 1966 to Dennis Vesely at St. Aloysius Church in Sauk City, WI.  Diane’s teaching career began with the Racine and Portage public school systems.  In 1981 she joined the staff at St. Mary School (Portage) as a teacher and in 1992 she accepted the position of principal which she held until her retirement in 2003.  During her tenure as principal, Diane earned a Master Degree in Educational Administration at Edgewood College.  She contributed immensely to the school and the parish, particularly in the areas of communication, problem solving, and professional and spiritual leadership.  In 1999, she was the recipient of the WNSAA Administrative Leadership Award from the Diocese of Madison and also served on the WNSAA Board of Directors for four years.

She was an active member of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Portage serving as a lector and on the parish council.  Diane enjoyed participating in the Portage Historical Society and serving on its Board of Directors.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren, working in her flower garden, was an avid fan of crossword puzzles, and a voracious reader. 

She is survived by her husband, Dennis; two sons, Christopher (Dawn) Vesely, Portage, and Charles Vesely, Portage; two grandchildren Travis James Vesely and Katelyn Marie Vesely, Portage; two sisters Barbara (Ron) Wolfe, Waunakee, Beverly (Mac) Wilcox, Libertyville, IL.; niece Barbara Diane Wilcox, Libertyville; other nieces, nephews and many close friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 19, 2010 at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, Portage, with Father James Murphy presiding.  Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Portage.  Friends may call from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Homes, Portage, and on Friday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Diane’s name to St. Mary School Portage.