Obituary | Dana Lisowski, 52, of Slinger, Wi

Dana attended Crown College in St. Bonifacius, MN, for one year, where she met Tony Lisowski. She graduated from Cedarville College in 1994 with her teaching degree. Tony and Dana were married on September 3, 1994, in Bowling Green. They have 3 sons – Caleb, Isaac, and Jaxon.

Dana said that being a ‘boy mama’ was “the best thing in the whole wide world!” She loved being involved wherever they were involved – at school, at church, in their neighborhood, and in their community.

Dana worked along with Tony in youth ministry for several years in Aurora, CO; Asbury Park, NJ; and Pine Hill, NJ; before moving to Wisconsin – Tony’s home state. She also had many opportunities to teach – as an English teacher at Excelsior Youth Center in Aurora; a Grant-funded Activities Coordinator in Aurora Public Schools; and as a substitute teacher in Pine Hill Public Schools.

She also worked in the West Bend, WI, School District for 15 years, until she had to resign because of poor health in 2022.

Dana started working at Decorah Elementary School in West Bend as a Library Aide. Soon, her passion for helping and empowering at-risk students became her primary focus. She developed a summer reading program with many of the Decorah teachers, which expanded into an academic-year program where they could better serve those students who needed additional help.

She created a clothes closet for needy students and a ‘safe space’ room for students who were struggling to get along in the classroom, or who needed breakfast, or who were ready for a hug from Miss Dana or with one of her stuffed animals.

She studied Trauma-Informed Care and other ways to help students who were in crisis so that she could better assist those students. Eventually, these efforts evolved into a Family Liaison Program for the entire West Bend School District, with a Family Liaison presence in every WBSD building.

Dana was also able to use her teaching skills within the context of her church. Most recently, she and Tony worked with children in grades 4 – 6 at Kettlebrook Church in West Bend. Her 6th-grade girls – The Rising Stars – meant so much to her, as she worked with them over the last two years.

She taught them and led them in opportunities to serve, even through this summer. She was sad that she could not continue leading them, although she did get to enjoy a visit from them in recent days at her home.

Dana will be remembered for many things . . . her strength of character, her passion to serve the under-served, her energy in all things, her creative leadership style, and her love for Christ. She thoroughly enjoyed it when her fellow Liaisons initiated time together to just have fun. She loved to invest in people. When she became a mother-in-law, Dana was delighted to add girls – Sarah and Lindsey – to the Lisowski family; and she loved mentoring them on a regular basis.

Dana is survived by her husband, Tony Lisowski; 3 sons and spouses – Caleb & Lindsey Lisowski (Kewaskum, WI), Isaac & Sarah Lisowski (Nashville, TN), and Jaxon Lisowski (at home); her sister and family – Blythe & Donnie Mason (Columbus, OH); and her parents – Chuck & Marilyn Hull (Vermilion, OH).

A Memorial Service for Dana will be held on Saturday September 21, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Kettlebrook Church (2378 West Washington Street, West Bend, WI). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Reach Local or to Reach Global  – ministries of Kettlebrook Church.

The Lisowski and Hull families offer a heartfelt ‘Thank You!’ to everyone who has followed and served them on this long cancer journey with Dana. They are deeply grateful for all your prayers, letters, calls, texts, gifts, visits, and help given over the years in this incredible story of a life well-lived.

Simple Cremation of Wisconsin is proudly serving the Lisowski family.