Adena Daniel

MADISON - Adena Joyce Parsons Daniel passed away on January 11, 2025. She was born on November 21, 1926, and grew up in Butte, Mo., one of the six children of Edward LeRoy and Hazel Mae Parsons, nee Owen. As a young woman, she loved horseback riding, skiing, gymnastics, and dancing. She often went with a group of high school friends for weekends at Chico Hot Springs, and recalled once being mortified that her mother insisted on accompanying them as a chaperone because she knew several young men planned to join them.

Adena was a skilled artist, and after high school enrolled for several semesters at Montana State University in Bozeman to study with renowned sculptor Peter Voulkos. She produced some impressive pottery while there, and continued drawing for years thereafter while raising her family. She was a member of Montana State’s Sigma Beta chapter of the Chi Omega sorority, and was honored by the national organization for 75 years of membership.

In September of 1952, she married Herbert James “Jim” Daniel, also of Butte. She initially worked for the Butte telephone company, but was forced to resign once her employer realized she was expecting her first child, as was legal at the time. That daughter was Jamie, who was followed by son Rhian and daughter Mary. When the children were small, the family moved first to Illinois, where Mary was born, and then to Kenosha, Wis., where Adena resided for many years in town and then in nearby Pleasant Prairie. She was a mother to 14 foster children, in addition to her three, and worked for several physicians. When her children were older, she began working at the Kenosha County Courthouse, where she worked until her retirement.

She loved animals, and especially German Shepherds. After she and Jim divorced, she continued caring for her dogs, quilting, and, as she was a talented seamstress, sewing for her grandchildren.  She was a caring and generous mother and grandmother.

Adena was preceded in death by all of her siblings; as well as her former husband, Jim; and her son, Rhian Daniel. She is survived by daughters, Mary Daniel of McFarland, Wis., and Jamie Daniel of Chicago and Bethel, Vt.; grandsons, Owen Daniel-McCarter (Jesse), Alexander Brown (Anne), and Matthew Daniel (Robyn); granddaughter, Katie Daniel Lubin (Jonathan); and four great-grandchildren.

Donations in her name may be sent to Underdog Pet Rescue in Madison, Wis., via www.underdogpetrescue.org.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420