Dawn Beard 1960-2025

Dawn was born on July 15, 1960, in Warren, Ohio, the beloved daughter of Bruce and Mary Heredia Cunningham.

Dawn grew up the only daughter in a family of five children, caring deeply for her brothers and parents. Despite being the only daughter, Dawn found others to fill the roles of her sisters at an early age, like her best friend, Cindi George Nordine, who would become a lifelong companion and support. Throughout Dawn’s early adulthood, her adventurous personality and zest for life led her to explore the United States with her friends and family, living in Ohio, Florida, Hawaii, Montana and Colorado, before meeting her husband, Scott, in Wisconsin. Scott and Dawn dated for two weeks before Scott proposed, to which she replied, “Are you sure?” Scott and Dawn recently celebrated their 39th anniversary. Following the birth of their first daughter, she attended art school and received her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Dawn was a loving mother and light to many, including her beloved foster children, Sarah, Phoenix and others, as well as her Beard children and their many friends. Throughout her life, she balanced caring for her children and caring for herself, dedicating time to painting, learning and mastering new art mediums and spending time with her horses. She had a lifelong love for animals and the lessons they can teach us. She cared deeply for the animals that came into our lives — such as horses, dogs, cats, chinchillas, toads, hamsters and gerbils — and loved observing animals in nature, like the cranes who lived behind our home and the hummingbirds who often visited. She valued her time with horses immensely, using the time to slow down and remind us of the values of patience, compassion, humility and trust.

Despite her cancer diagnosis in 2019, her strength and resilience pushed her to continue arm wrestling her sons, trail riding with friends, thrifting and working full time. And despite the treatments, she always showed up for her loved ones. One of her favorite activities was watching her youngest daughter, Lily, play basketball, where she was well-known to other parents as someone who would gladly strike up a warm conversation and share a laugh. Dawn has always been a loving mother and wife, a passionately gifted artist and a role model in living kindly and joyfully. She loved unconditionally and will always be loved unconditionally. The music of her soul filled every room of our home. Her laughter, smile and the brightness that she brought wherever she went will be deeply missed; her family takes solace in the impact that she had on others.

Dawn is survived by her husband, Scott; her children, Kyla, Salene (Vasco), Mitchell, Daniel and Lilliana; brothers, Bob (Patty, Ty and Megan) Kaestner, Ric Kaestner, Jim (Sharon, Tory and Taylor) Cunningham, and Chris Cunningham; and close friends whom she considered to be her family. She is further survived by her beloved Ho-Chunk sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews on Scott’s side of the family.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

No services are planned at this time.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, please donate, in her name, to the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center. She respected and appreciated working with her care team at the UW Carbone Cancer Center, who helped her and our family to enjoy an additional five years together following her cancer diagnosis; please visit https://cancer.wisc.edu/giving/.

The Conway-Picha Funeral Home and Crematory of Lyndon Station, Wisconsin, assisted the family with arrangements. For online condolences and information, go to www.pichafuneralhome.com.

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