Born on May 12th, 1961 in Granite City, Illinois, she was the daughter of the late Leonard J. Friederich and Lucile A. (Konzen) Friederich.
Diane was a wife, a sister, a daughter, a loving friend, and a teacher who had a sustained passion for life.
Diane enlisted in the United States Air Force for active duty service in 1983, and completed her service with an honorable discharge. She then joined the reserves, serving during operation Desert Storm, and was deployed to Europe to serve on a Mercy Medical Ship for injured coalition troops. She was extremely proud of following her Father’s military service.
During her service, she met the love of her life, Michael Tyson, an Air Force Sergeant, both of whom were stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California, where they resided for 30 years.
After her military career, she returned to further her education, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology, however, her passion was the medical field, becoming a licensed medical laboratory technician, where she could impact the lives of countless patients.
Still not satisfied, she again furthered her education by earning a Masters degree in Clinical Laboratory Science. Diane became not only a teacher, but also a mentor to her students, even staying in contact with them long after they graduated.
Mike and Diane moved to West Virginia from California so she could continue her passion for teaching at New River Technical College, where she created the Medical Laboratory Technology Program.
Testimony to Diane’s ongoing influence upon her former students occurred when several of them came to the hospital room to pay their respects and to tell her family members how important she was to them. They told the family how they loved that Diane followed their lives and careers on Facebook, and how she continued to be a friend after graduation, even attending a student’s wedding. She was an exceptional teacher following in her Mother’s footsteps.
After she left teaching, she and her beloved husband Mike started a new chapter in their lives by devoting all of their time to animal rescue. Working with local adoption agencies and rescue support groups, Mike and Diane rescued dozens of abused, neglected, and unwanted animals and gave them a loving and safe home.
In addition to all of Diane’s accomplishments, she enjoyed gardening, kayaking, hiking, camping, watching Cincinnati Reds baseball, raising her beloved chickens, and visiting out of town family.
In addition to her parents, Diane was preceded in death by a Brother, Dr. Mark S. Friederich.
Those left to cherish her memory include her Husband of 37 years, Michael D. Tyson; Sisters, Susan (Dr. Randall) Bell of Goreville, Illinois, and Jane (Thomas) Reis of Edwardsville, Illinois; a Brother, Michael (Janet) Friederich of Omaha, Nebraska; a Sister-in-law, Kay Friederich of Troy Illinois; 8 Nieces and Nephews; and 17 Great Nieces and Nephews.
The family requests that donations be made to the Raleigh County Humane Society, the Golden Retriever Rescue, or an animal shelter of your choice.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.11.2