Elizabeth Anne Dauw passed away peacefully on the morning of May 5, 2026, at the age of 66. She passed after a two-year fight with pancreatic cancer. Elizabeth was able to spend a final couple of days with some members of her family before passing.
Born and raised in Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada, she graduated from New Mexico State University with a master’s degree in music, orchestral conducting and piano performance. She also obtained a bachelor of fine arts degree in music composition from York University.
Elizabeth’s life was filled with travel, adventure, music, artistic expression and a love for animals.
Her early adult years were spent traveling Canada as a professional musician. She played piano in many notable locations and for many notable personalities. She settled in Calgary, Canada, and spent many years playing local venues, including a yearly performance playing piano for the Christmas music program at the Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Canada.
On one of her many musical adventures, she met her ex-husband in Sandpoint, Idaho, at a theatrical event. Michael Wise was a theatrical director for a local performance. They were soon married, and Liz was on to her next adventure as a theatrical music director and artist. For five years, Liz and Michael traveled the United States directing and performing in many venues. They were based out of Las Cruces, New Mexico. They traveled to Portland in the late 1990s, and Liz fell in love with the city.
During their time in Portland, the relationship ended and Michael Wise returned to New Mexico. Elizabeth stayed in Portland after the divorce to start her new life. She enjoyed her newfound freedom and vowed to never marry again.
She spent a short time teaching music at St. Mary's Academy before moving on to becoming a contract content and website designer with Intel. Liz was able to use her artistic talent and soon came to love the web design business. When her contract expired with Intel, she started her own successful web design business.
Liz extended her talents to real estate investing after doing a web project for, and becoming a member of, a local real estate investment club. She soon had her real estate license and spent the last 12 years of her life as a real estate agent.
In 2000, she joined the Bergfreunde Ski Club and enjoyed the activities, social life and all the new friends she met. She was an active member of the club and for many years was the publisher of the club’s monthly news and activity booklet, Mogul Notes, and designed and maintained the club’s website.
She met her current life partner, Michael Osenga, at a club summer camping event. They spent more than 25 years as friends and partners, living together in Vancouver, Washington, and finally settling down for the last seven years in Battle Ground, Washington.
Liz continued her music throughout her life, teaching piano while living in Vancouver. After moving to Battle Ground, she joined the Battle Ground Community Band, Beacock Jazz Band, Westwinds Community Band and many other local music organizations. In the past few years, she took on the additional challenge of learning saxophone to expand her musical horizons. She also took up painting as a hobby and served a short time as the Battle Ground art representative to the arts commission.
She is survived by her sisters, Valerie Dauw and Diane Vervaccke; her brothers, Richard Dauw, David Dauw and Gregory Dauw; many nieces and nephews; her domestic partner of the last 25 years, Michael; and her kitty, Athena.
“Liz, may you travel the universe wild and free, spreading your love, beauty and artistic talent. May your energy and enthusiasm guide you through this next adventure of your existence. You will always be loved and remembered.” — Love, Michael and Athena.
Liz was able to support many causes with her final wishes. She left generous donations to Battle Ground Community Band, North County Food Bank of Battle Ground, Washington, Furry Friends of Southwest Washington, National Wildlife Federation, Humane Society for Southwest Washington, and Wild Heart Ranch, a wildlife rehabilitation ranch in Oklahoma.
Please provide any remembrances to one of these organizations in her name.
A celebration of life will be planned in the near future.
