Diane D. Cowan Obituary
With family by her side, Diane Delores Cowan (née Domack) passed away the evening of March 8, 2024. Born August 6, 1935, in Marshfield, Wisconsin, to Benjamin and Susan (née Jastromski) Domack, Diane was one of the youngest of their five children. She was preceded in death by three older siblings: Eugene Domack, Edith Wurcer, and Ben Domack, Jr., She is survived by her youngest sibling, Cindy Devereaux.
After graduating from Milwaukee's Pius XI High School, she worked briefly in banking. At a 1954 Catholic Youth Organization dance, she met Robert J. Cowan. They married on January 7, 1956. During their 68-year marriage, Bob jokingly says that, on important decisions, Diane got two votes and he got one. Bob likes to think that meant Diane always won, but we know she deferred to him on many occasions.
Diane's life changed dramatically with the birth of their first child in October of 1956 and six more in the years following. A special part of her heart was set aside for each of her children: Kimberly (William) Hand, Timothy (Noriko) Cowan, Michael (Jayne) Cowan, Mary (Joe) Beier, John Cowan, Amy (Steve) Braun, and Keith (Jennifer) Cowan.
We're confident her 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren knew how much she loved them; she was diligent in remembering their birthdays and holidays with hand-made cards. Their phone calls and visits were very important to her.
While Diane's primary focus had to be her husband and children, she didn't let those roles completely define her. Her innate artistic and creative talents expressed themselves throughout her long and highly productive, spirit-filled life. We'll all remember her in our own ways: loving and patient wife, tender-hearted mother and mother-in-law, attentive grand- and great-grandmother, dear sister and sister-in-law, kind friend and neighbor, dedicated volunteer, life-long learner, avid gardener, wonderful cook, loyal employee, St. James parishioner who took great solace in her spiritual journey, part-time Mrs. Claus, enthusiastic traveler, and proud Kashubian Pole.
Diane struggled mightily with many health issues in her later years, but always kept family foremost in her prayers. Throughout her numerous hospital stays and while in hospice care—to the very end—she remained courageous, strong-willed, and calm.
A memorial mass to celebrate Diane's life will be held on Tuesday, March 19th, at 11:30AM at St. James Catholic Church in Menomonee Falls. Visitation will be held from 10AM until the time of the Mass at the church. In lieu of flowers, we suggest donations to St. Vincent de Paul Society, Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens, or the Menomonee Falls Historical Society.
Visitation Tuesday, March 19, 2024 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM St. James Catholic Church, W220N6588 Town Line Rd Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 Phone: (262) 251-3630.
