Dianne Clarine Anderson Thompson was born on March 4, 1935 to Mathew and Myrle Hermann Anderson in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. On June 20, 2024, surrounded by family, she passed away peacefully in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

Dianne grew up close to both her grandparents and spent many days helping her grandmothers in their kitchens. When she was in grade school and high school it was her job to prepare dinner for her parents. This is where her love of cooking began. She went on to pursue a degree in home economics at UW-Stout and taught home economics at Wisconsin Dells High School.

As a young lady, Dianne enjoyed riding her horse, Diana Lynn, and showing her at the Bit and Spur Club close to her parent’s home. She won many ribbons and trophies. She passed on her love of horses and showing horses to her daughter, Elizabeth, and granddaughter, Emily, and enjoyed watching them show over the years.

In her senior year of high school, she met her future husband and the love of her life, Chuck Thompson. The two went to the Senior Prom together and then went on to marry on July 9, 1955. They welcomed their first child, Julie, two years later. In 1958, Chuck and Dianne moved to Wisconsin Dells, where they lived for the next sixty-six years.  They welcomed their second daughter, Elizabeth, in 1962.

That same year, in 1962, Dianne and Chuck purchased what was to become Mr. Pancake with their friends the Natters. It was supposed to be a summer job for them but turned into a passion. Dianne used her love of cooking to perfect all the pancake recipes that are still used to this day.

It wasn’t long before they went into the restaurant business full-time. Dianne and Chuck had the Burger Bar in the lower Dells, the Fireside, Mr. Pancake, Red Wagon, Louisiana Bottoms, Fireside Station Pizza, and Wintergreen Grille in Wisconsin Dells, Jimmy’s Place, and Red Wagon in Portage, Red Wagon in De Forest, Red Wagon and Back of the Wagon in Baraboo, and the Oasis in Janesville.  Dianne made the menus and recipes for all the locations.

In 1986, Chuck and Dianne also ventured into the hotel business with their daughter and her husband, Julie, and Bob Johnson, with the Carousel Inn and Suites and the Wintergreen Resort and Conference Center (previously the Kennel Club). Chuck and Dianne also developed, with their friend Tommy Thompson, the Riverwood Condominiums in Wisconsin Dells. Being an amateur architect with a keen eye for detail, she helped design and decorate the condos there.

While her primary residence for the last 66 years was Wisconsin Dells, she spent over 20 years wintering in Duck Key, Florida where she made wonderful memories with close friends and family. She was always there to welcome her guests with a warm hug and a piece of key lime pie.

Dianne had a love of history, and she bought the H.H. Bennett House in 1976 when it was for sale, saving it from being torn down. She worked with her daughter, Julie, to get it added to the National Register of Historic Places. Together they restored the home to the period it was built in 1863 and opened it up for tours.

She was very civically active, serving on many boards and with nonprofits, including the Dells Country Historical Society, Friends of H.H. Bennett, the Governor’s Executive Residence Board, the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, the UW-Baraboo Friends of the Campus Board, St. Clare Hospital Board and was the President of the church council at Bethany Lutheran Church.

Dianne was also very active in politics, along with Chuck. She attended National Conventions for the Republican Party, even serving as a delegate, and entertained many leaders in her home. One of her favorite guests was First Lady Barbara Bush for whom she gave a tea.

But her favorite and most important aspect of her life was her family. She hosted many family parties, including having her family together in her home on Christmas Eve was always an annual tradition that she cherished.  She loved traveling with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She never missed celebrating a birthday or special event. Her great-grandchildren loved visiting and playing with their “Gigi.” We will miss her warm hugs and knowing smiles at every family event to come.

Dianne is survived by her daughter, Julie Johnson, and her husband, Robert Johnson of Reedsburg, WI, their son James Johnson and his wife, Mahsa Johnson of McLean, VA, and their children, Graham, Naomi, and Connor, their son Dr. Michael Johnson and his wife, Gretchen Johnson of Green Bay, WI, and their children, Margaret, William, and Abigail, and their daughter, Catherine Johnson of Washington, D.C; her daughter, Elizabeth Knoop, and her husband Thomas Knoop of Wisconsin Dells, WI, their daughter, Emily Olson, and her husband Jeremy Olson of Wisconsin Dells, WI. and their children Landon and Parker, and their son, Charles Knoop of Baraboo, WI; and her daughter by choice Phyllis Chan and her husband Leo Chan of North Brunswick, NJ, and their son Edric Chan and his wife Kellen Chan of New York, NY and their daughter Tobin, and Derrick Chan and his wife, Shelley Chen of New York, NY. and their daughter, Zoey. She is also survived by her dear friend, William Hutchins of Wisconsin Dells, WI and other extended family members.

Dianne was preceded in death by her parents, Mathew Anderson and Myrle Hermann Anderson, her in-laws Harold and Lila Thompson, and her beloved husband, Chuck, who has been waiting for her in heaven.

Funeral Services for Dianne will be held Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 11:00 am at Bethany Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Dells (620 Broadway Ave, Wisconsin Dells, WI). Reverend Joseph Doegen, Pastor, will officiate. Visitation will also be on Tuesday, at the church from 10:00 am until the time of service. Following services, the interment will take place at Newport Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Farber Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.