Alexandria "Alex" Wagner

Alexandria “Alex” Wagner (Djisheff) of Madison, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on November 10, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was welcomed into eternal rest by her loving husband, Walter, who preceded her in death.

Left to celebrate her life are her daughter, Nikole (Peter) Desmarais, and her cherished grandchildren, Daniel and Lillia, who were the lights of her life. She will be loved and remembered by her beloved cousins Eli Mladenoff and his wife, Claudia and their children, and Florence Boston and her husband, Richard, and their children, as well as nephews and cousins Matt Weber and his wife, Shelly; Mark Weber and his wife, Kris; John Weber and Marissa and Matt Zastrow.

Alex was born in Youngstown, Ohio, to John and Nada Djisheff. She met Walter while attending the University of Ohio, and the two eventually made their home in Madison, Wisconsin. For 30 years, Alex gave her compassion and care to patients as a psychiatric nurse at UW Health. Along the way, she formed lifelong friendships with her colleagues, including Linda Witt, with whom she later shared many winter escapes to their favorite spot in the Florida Keys.

Alex’s warmth and joy for life showed in everything she loved. A passionate quilter, she looked forward to her annual retreat with a group of friends from UW Health. She loved to travel and enjoyed trips with family and friends. She prioritized and showed the importance of spending time with family with many car rides and trips with her daughter over the years. An avid reader, she belonged to multiple book clubs over the years. Wherever she went, she made cherished friends, from those groups to her final years at the wonderful All Saints Community, where she never missed a gathering at Carol’s with her dear friend Rita by her side. Her laughter, generosity, and love of good company will be remembered by all who knew her.

Alex received exceptional care from the Medical Oncology team at UW Health. She commented and appreciated the supportive and wonderful care from Agrace hospice in her final days.

A celebration of Alex’s life will be held on Friday, December 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Garver Feed Mill, 3241 Garver Green, Madison, WI 53704. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in her memory to Agrace Hospice Care in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. (www.agrace.org/donate/donate-today)