Obituary
Diane Cavis
Diane Cavis, 82, of Onalaska died close to midnight on Friday, November 26th, 2025 – family by her side.
She was born on May 24, 1943, in Washington D.C. to Lloyal and Elaine (Pearson) Bacon. Diane attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette, studying home economics and tailoring.
In 1963, she married Thomas (Tom) Cavis. They raised two daughters; Kerry Stucky, of Kansas City and Marni Cavis-Cleghorn (Paul Cleghorn), of New Zealand.
They resided in the Wisconsin Coulee Region throughout their lives together. First, in La Crosse, then Onalaska. While there, they purchased property outside of Holmen and began to design a home during the energy crisis of the 70s, being sure that it was as energy efficient as possible. They heated with wood, farmed vegetables, raised chickens and llamas (whose wool was used in her love of the fiber arts), and participated in all aspects of homesteading. Ten years after Tom’s passing, Diane moved back to Onalaska, where the physical duties of the farm were not required. Her physical fitness still mattered and the personal training that she and Tom began together continued until 2020.
Being introduced to camping as a teenager, Diane made sure that Tom and her daughters fell in love with it too and fostered a great passion for the outdoors. In addition to camping and the homestead life, another of her passions was singing. She spent all of her years in the church choir and was an enthusiastic fan of opera. Her love for all things fabric and fiber grew beyond her sewing and tailoring skills and she began spinning, dyeing, and weaving. Her church family and fiber arts family loved her dearly. A third family she found was with Tom and his love of antique Power Wagons; both participating in shows, caravans and parades in their restored models.,
Diane is survived by her 2 daughters, Kerry and Marni Cavis-Cleghorn (Paul Cleghorn); 2 sisters, Patricia (Pat) Bacon and Sherrill (Bacon) Fulner; sister-in-law Mary (Tim) Gales; 6 grandchildren, Aubrey (Shawn) Gruen of Holmen, Sidney (Eric) Cornett, Whitney Shae, Lindsey Stucky, Christian (Tommy) Stucky, of Kansas City, and Torsten Cavis-Cleghorn, of New Zealand; 10 and 1/2 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be at 2pm on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at the Onalaska United Methodist Church. Pastor Melissa Hood will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Onalaska United Methodist Church, 212 4th Ave., Onalaska, WI 54650.
Condolences may be made to the family by visiting CouleeCremation.com.
Marni– So sorry to read of your mother’s passing, and sorry we never got to meet. We shared many interests, especially llamas!
Much aloha.
Diane and the Cavis family have been like a second family to me. graciously including me in their lives. Diane left a legacy of strong and beautiful children to carry on and I am blessed to know them. She will always live on in my heart.
Kerry, sorry to read about your mother’s passing. My your memories be with you always. Prayers and thoughts to you and Marni and all of your families during this difficult time.
our sympathies to the family. Your parents were good neighbor’s, your mother a very nice lady. Interesting people..
Marni, Paul and Torsten , Diane was a lovely person and I loved seeing all her fibres and the colours of them when I was over for Marni and Paul’s wedding. We have had many meetings since then. Diane will live on in are hearts.
I had the pleasure of meeting your Mum when she was here in Wellington for WOW. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Kerry