Danette Tellijohn

Mar 21, 2016

New Richmond, Wisconsin

Danette Terese (Goodman) Tellijohn, age 62, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 21, 2016 at the Deerfield Gables in New Richmond, WI surrounded by her loving family after a seven month battle with cancer. Danette (Danni) was born on March 28, 1953 in Sparta, WI to Roy and Geraldine (Pringle) Goodman. Danni was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick’s Church in Sparta. She attended St. Patrick’s grade school and graduated from Sparta Senior High School in 1971. After graduation she attended UW – Eau Claire majoring in English and Speech Education graduating in 1975. She taught and coached at Stillwater and Spring Valley Senior High Schools, and St. Croix Central Middle School. Her passion was for educating all children especially at the middle and high school levels. She earned her Masters Degree in Reading at UW – River Falls. Danni was an advocate for students with special needs while working for Wisconsin FACETS. She finished her 40 year career as a forensics (competitive speech and theatre) coach and substitute teacher at New Richmond High School. On August 10, 1974 Danni married Greg Tellijohn at St. Patrick’s Church in Sparta, WI. To this union, one daughter Megan and one son Eric were born. They built a “dome home” and lived outside of New Richmond, WI. Danni was a voracious reader and avid writer, scrap-booker and shopper. She was an esteemed colleague and community servant. She volunteered and was President of Parents as Partners serving students with special needs, Stagedoor Players, the Aging Disabilities Resource Center, the Erin Prairie voting precinct and worked tirelessly as a forensics adjudicator. She influenced the lives of her family, friends and students. Danni was everyone’s best cheerleader and quintessential caregiver. She loved all things pink. Danni was a remarkable mother and grandmother and was gracious to all through her hospitality to their friends and family members. She loved live theater and dance. Through her work, she literally changed young lives to ‘do better’ and ‘be better’ and to respect themselves and their abilities. She wrote the most compassionate evaluations of student’s forensic presentations. Danni will be remembered for her courtesy, friendliness, caregiving and compassion. She was preceded in death by her father Roy Goodman and her father-in-law Gordon Tellijohn. Danni will be missed by Greg, her husband of 41 years and her children Megan (Scott) Wood of Barneveld, WI and Eric (Susie Kairis) Tellijohn of New Richmond; her two grandchildren Maddox and Cecelia (Cece) Wood and her ‘grand-dogs’ Daytona and Guinness. She will also be missed by her mother Gerry Goodman of Sparta and her brother Charles (Theresa) Goodman of Dallas, TX as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, relatives, cousins, coworkers, close friends, dear students and final caregivers. Visitation will be held from 4-6 PM on Friday, April 1, 2016 at the Cullen Crea Funeral Home in New Richmond. Memorial service celebrating Danette’s life will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at First Lutheran Church in New Richmond with a visitation one hour prior to the service at church. In lieu of flowers, memorials honoring Danette should be directed to the family. “In life an Angel, forever an Angel”