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Diane Nikolene (Staker) Barnidge

Diane Nikolene (Staker) Barnidge, 85, of Madison, Wis., passed away peacefully on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, surrounded by her family.

She is survived by her children: daughter, Angela (Nick) Bartley; daughter, Melani Barnidge; and son, Tracy (Vicki) Barnidge. She is further survived by her grandchildren, Cameren Swiggum, Lindsey Swiggum, Aidan Swiggum, Katharine Barnidge, Madaline Barnidge and Isabella Bartley; sister, Cindi (Tom) Dorsey; brothers, Dan (Lynne) Staker and Cal (Joan) Staker; stepchildren: Debbie, Jeff and Cory; and many other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin Staker and Helga (Larsen) Staker; and step-son, Dean.

Diane was born in Reinbeck, Iowa, on July 19, 1937. The eldest of four children, she was raised as a farm girl and helped her parents by learning to drive a tractor at a young age. After graduating from Reinbeck High School in 1955, she worked for the railroad in California. She then took to the sky as a flight attendant with North Central Airlines and developed her love for travel. Always having an interest in the world of beauty, Diane became a licensed cosmetologist and esthetician, and was co-founder of William Jon Salons. She then opened her own salons, Diane Jon Salons and D.J.Õs Next Generation, located in Madison, Wis. During her many years as a salon owner, Diane served on the Wisconsin State Board of Cosmetology, Tempo, a women’s service organization and was an enthusiastic supporter of UW-Madison womenÕs athletics. As the years passed, her passions included spending time with her grandchildren, traveling, crocheting, gardening and volunteering in the community and through her church.

Private family services will be held for Diane. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be gifted in Diane’s name to Madison Children’s Museum or Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to the staff at the UW Hospital and Clinics for the compassionate care provided to Diane throughout the years. Online condolences may be made at www.gunderson-fh.com.