Dee Ann (Friedel) Dreistadt

July 7, 1936 – June 19, 2026

Dee Ann Friedel Dreistadt left on her final journey, just a few weeks short of her 90th Birthday.

Pack a picnic and she was off on an adventure; on- on-one or with a whole pack of grandkids. Tea parties, fairy gardens, helping kites to soar, splashing in a creek, kindergarten sendoff parties, flying paper airplanes from the stairs of the capitol building, Gramma Dee could turn every outing into a grand adventure.

Her legacy lives on in every garden planted, every road traveled, every friend welcomed, every skill shared, and every life she touched. She taught by example that life is an adventure best lived with gratitude, creativity, compassion, and a willingness to keep learning.

She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered, especially for her positive attitude and outlook on life, seeing the best in everyone and starting each day counting her blessings. She continually thanked those around her and told everyone what a great day it was going to be and then she might sing…

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

Dee Ann loved a good party and two weeks prior to her taking her final journey… to heaven, an early 90th birthday party was hosted by family for her. The family appreciates the friendships she formed and the care she received from Adoray Hospice and Bay Harbor staff.

Dee Ann Friedel Dreistadt was born on July 7, 1936 in Houston, Texas to Julius (Skeet) Friedel and Violet Bell Elizabeth Wright. Dee Ann was preceded in death by her parents and her stepmother, Georgia Friedel; Brothers Joel and Robert Friedel; by husbands, Henry Dreistadt and Mark Cullen.

She is survived by her children: Steven Dreistadt (Jenny Manson-Hing) of Davis, California; Sue Watters (Steve) of Woodville, Wisconsin; Karen Gresback (Brian) of River Falls, Wisconsin; and Kathy Hilden of Roberts, Wisconsin.

Grandchildren: Jed Watters, Emily Nelson (Lucas), Kalen Leque (Thomas); Alison Gresback (John Gleason), Joseph Gresback (Natalie); Corey Hilden (Shelby), Katie Jo Hilden (fiancé Matthew Erickson); Step grandchildren Chris Couper and Catie Couper;

Great-Grand Children: Addison (Jonathan), Josiah, Tanner, Neve, Paisley, Bryce, Brooklyn, Grace; Lucy, Chloe, Johnny, Gabriella, Charles; Colton, Westly, Austin, Emma Jo.

Special family friend Gretchen Link

Nieces Debbie Freidel, Diane Friedel Ihrig, nephew Robert Friedel and their families.

Throughout her life, Dee Ann embraced every opportunity to learn, create, serve, and connect with others. Her boundless energy, creativity, generosity, and love for family, friends and God left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her.

As a young pastor’s wife, Dee Ann embraced the many responsibilities expected of her. She worked tirelessly to create a warm and welcoming home while serving as a devoted wife, mother, Sunday School teacher, choir member, and active participant in countless church activities. Though finances were limited, she transformed every parsonage into a place of hospitality, where fresh coffee, homemade desserts, and open doors welcomed family, friends, and church members alike. Dee utilized lists and journals to track pertinent information, including what church members took cream and sugar with their coffee.

Dee was a gifted seamstress, and like everything else, self-taught. Sewing matching outfits for her daughters and their dolls, crafted intricate Barbie clothing complete with knitted accessories, and surprised her children with handmade Halloween costumes that magically appeared overnight. Her talents extended far beyond sewing. Her own colorful wardrobe and signature hats reflected her vibrant personality and flair for style. She gardened extensively, preserving fruits and vegetables through canning and freezing, tapping trees to make maple syrup and spending countless hours making homemade noodles, donuts, jams, and jellies. Every meal reflected her care and commitment to providing for her family.

Creativity flowed through every aspect of Dee Ann’s life. She decorated homes beautifully, refinished furniture, landscaped yards, created flower arrangements, made candles, practiced calligraphy and photography, crafted shadow boxes and macramé crafts, sewed curtains, and decorated blown eggs with artistry rivaling fine collectibles. She was quite the painter, even the fire hydrant in front of their home she painted a lovely shade of green to match the front door, (the city insisted she paint it back to its original official red color). She was a room mother, Den Mother, neighborhood organizer of various activities, chaperoned school ski trips, and the keeper of a cookie jar that was always filled with homemade treats for her children and their friends.

Dee Ann was a lifelong learner. Her extensive library reflected her endless curiosity and desire to grow. She eagerly read books on a wide variety of subjects, underlined meaningful passages, clipped newspaper articles, collected recipes, and shared knowledge with family and friends. She believed learning was a lifelong adventure.

She was an avid writer, sending letters, cards, photos and newspaper articles to family and friends worldwide. She had an impressive assortment of postage stamps and tried to match the stamp to the person or occasion.

Adventure was indeed a defining theme of her life. Dee Ann loved canoeing, kayaking, camping—including winter camping—ice skating, snowshoeing, hiking, biking, water skiing, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, singing, and dancing. Dee loved to dance. Despite being born and raised in the South, she developed a deep love for winter sports and delighted in introducing others to them. Dee Ann was involved with Ski for Light, an international organization that teaches downhill and cross-country skiing to blind, visually impaired, and mobility-impaired individuals. She found great joy in sharing her love of skiing while helping others experience the freedom and fun of being outdoors.

Travel was one of Dee Ann’s greatest passions. Many holidays and summer vacations were spent road tripping to see extended family in California, Texas and Pennsylvania. She visited 45 states, Canada, Mexico, and backpacked through England in her late sixties. Her camping accommodations evolved over the years from a surplus army tent to campers, cabins, a Pleasure-Way conversion van, a Mini-Winnie motorhome, and eventually a carefully outfitted minivan designed for comfortable travel adventures. She kept a packed suitcase and backpack ready for spontaneous journeys and crisscrossed the United States countless times to stay connected with family and friends. Her favorite travel companions were her family; her kids, grandkids and eventually her great grandchildren. Countless amazing trips to all corners of the country or just the backyard, county parks and state parks.

Her gift for hospitality led her to become a hosting member of the Nationwide Evergreen Bed and Breakfast Club, where she formed lifelong friendships. Dee designed and built several of her homes into bed-and-breakfast establishments, first Afton Country Bed & Breakfast and later Loon Lake Lodge in Northern Minnesota. Guests frequently returned year after year, drawn by Dee Ann’s warmth, thoughtful touches, and genuine interest in people. She thoughtfully designed several of her homes and included “secret” hiding places and lofts for the children.

Service to others was central to Dee Ann’s life. During the 1970s, she managed Skycrest, prior to the addition and name change to the Lutheran Home, where her creativity and compassion helped improve residents’ quality of life. She organized an aquatic exercise program at the University, coordinated transportation, a ramp was built into the pool, the Lions Club donated red swimsuits for everyone, UWRF students volunteered to assist with a one-on-one ratio of students to elderly residents.

She volunteered with numerous organizations, including the American Red Cross, traveling to disaster areas across the country, including several months in New York City following the 911 attacks, Puerto Rico after a hurricane, and communities affected by flooding along the Mississippi River and other humanitarian aid trips. Dee lived thinking of others, before cell phones, she passed out phone credit cards to folks in need so they could call home to connect to family. Her door was always open to anyone seeking shelter or a meal.

An entrepreneur at heart, Dee Ann founded and operated several successful businesses throughout her life, including The Accent Shoppe Flowers & Gifts and Execu-Maid, a cleaning service for homes, businesses, boats, and airplanes. Her work experience also included serving as a customer service representative for the Telephone Company, dental office receptionist, overnight aide, and Encyclopedia Britannica Associate.

Her colorful wardrobe and signature hats reflected her vibrant personality and flair for style. She also had a passion for music, played a lively harmonica and the accordion. She was in several music groups, including Showtime Gals, and the River City Chorale. Car rides with the family created an instant sing-along, musicals, André Rieu, gospel hymns of praise and worship enrichened her life.

Being a lifelong fan of Disney and especially Mickey and Minnie Mouse. She had a sizable collection of Disney related paraphernalia. She was often referred to by her Great Grand Children as, “The Mickey Mouse Grandmother”). The great grandchildren enjoyed going to visit great-gramma Dee’s and picking out something to bring home from her trove of stuffed animals, bubble wands, chalk, kites and other delightful surprises she lovingly saved for them, along with getting their height recorded on the wall dedicated to their growth.

Cremation services are entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Hudson. For more information or to share a memory, please visit www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com or call 715-386-3725