Dianne Marie Pickel

Dianne was born to Raymond and Darlene Fries on August 27, 1954 in Dubuque, IA. While still a toddler, her family moved from their apartment in Dubuque to their first house in Key West, IA. When she was ten, the family moved to a farm in the rolling hills of the Swiss Valley area west of Dubuque. Dianne graduated from Wahlert High School in 1972. She received her Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse diploma from Mercy Medical Center School of Nursing in 1974. Continuing with her education, Dianne obtained a Bachelor of Social Work and Education degree from Clarke University in 1976. In 1995, she earned her Masters in Counseling and Education from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville.

After graduating from Clarke, Dianne started working as an RN, primarily in the healthcare field, with some exposure to counseling work. In the fall of 1989, she began work as an elementary school nurse. Dianne enjoyed the work and the children. Shortly thereafter, she achieved the education requirements to work as a guidance counselor for elementary and middle school children. Dianne continued in this passion for close to 24 years with the Dubuque Community Schools.

In 2013, Dianne began to move toward a semi-retired schedule. She worked as a substitute counselor and teacher for the Dubuque school district and some of the surrounding districts. This freer schedule allowed her to explore other interests.

Dianne moved to South Carolina in March 2015, where she bought a house in West Columbia. A few years later, she moved back to Iowa, where she purchased a building in Cascade with a storefront on the first level and an apartment on the second. She began to offer free yoga and workout classes for women in the area. Dianne wanted to create a space where women could drop in for a coffee, share in a conversation, or have a place just to sit and read.

By 2019, the grandkids were getting into their active phase of life. Dianne moved back to the Columbia area to be closer to two of her daughters and their families. The charm and long history of the Carolinas proved to be a strong draw for Dianne. She loved taking walks along the river and visiting the local flower gardens. Dianne would often tell her friends and family about the beauty of the area. All these experiences moved her to volunteer as a guide for Historic Columbia. Learning the history of these old buildings and the people who lived in them brought her much joy. Dianne loved sharing their stories with visitors. Dianne even received the Newcomer Award from the Historic Columbia in September 2020. Because of her historical interest in the area, Dianne was currently gathering research for a historical fiction novel she was planning to write set around the Civil War period.

Dianne loved to travel, ranging from local weekend outings to European adventures. In 2002, she organized a European trip for the Fries and Pickel families to Ireland, Wales, England, and Paris. This trip was motivated by Dianne’s mother’s desire to visit the small town of Tissington in the Derbyshire countryside of England. Tissington was the birthplace of Dianne’s great-grandfather, Thomas Beresford. She loved biking and going for walks and had a secret dream to one day walk the Appalachian Trail, but age caught up with her before that dream became reality. Attending musicals and symphonies was another passion for Dianne. But her greatest passion was watching her daughters grow into strong, successful women and then watching as they nurtured their own children. Dianne loved her daughters and grandchildren and was thankful for the time she spent with them.

Dianne was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Kathy Allen. She is survived by her three daughters: Kelly (Jared) Fici of Chapin, SC, Michelle (Brian) Ellis of Queen Creek, AZ, and Katie (Greg) Williams of Columbia, SC. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Kylie, James, Jaden, Rylie, Aden, and Grace. Dianne has three surviving brothers: Tom (Margie) Fries of Avon Lake, OH, Ted (Paula) Fries of Ely, IA, and Gary (Elaine) Fries of Rosemount, MN.

The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you send donations in her name to Historic Columbia. Those donations can be made on their website, Historic Columbia.