Deane V. Anderson, 66, of Madison, passed away from complications of Parkinson’s disease on Dec. 17, 2025.
Growing up in Waterford, he spent time working at his grandparents’ farm as well as at the State Fair Park grounds during the summers. In 1977, he graduated from Waterford Union High School and later attended University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees in Natural Resources and Education. After college he joined the U.S. Peace Corps to work in rural Honduras on a clean cookstove project and to hone his Spanish. Returning home, he continued his education and became a journalist, writing stories about agricultural research and extension at UW-Madison. Deane, though, was still drawn to cross-cultural work, so he earned his certification as an ESL/bilingual teacher for elementary students and worked for 14 years in Sauk Prairie and Madison public schools, and volunteered with adults at Madison International Partners, a nonprofit based at Christ Presbyterian Church. Among the joys of his life were his daughters, Carolyn and Kendra, whom he adopted internationally with his wife of 33 years, Susan Smetzer-Anderson.
A gentle and thoughtful man, Deane will be missed by his parents Dean and Marlene Anderson, extended family, in-laws, many friends, and those who regularly visited and supported him as Parkinson’s took its toll.
The family thanks Drs. Thomas Kerndt and Timothy Cordes of Associated Physicians and neurologist Kathleen Shannon of UW Hospital and Clinics for their exceptional care, as well as the Agrace Hospice team, who served Deane with such gentleness as he broke free from his illness into the riches of God’s love.
Deane’s life celebration will be Saturday, Jan. 24, at 2 p.m., at Geneva Campus Church, 401 North Blackhawk Ave. in Madison. The celebration will also be streamed on YouTube (Live) channel @genevacampuschurch5848.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Agros International or World Relief, two organizations close to Deane’s heart, or the Michael J. Fox Foundation to support Parkinson’s research.