Irene Valeria Field, age 92, of Mount Horeb, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, at Spring Valley Health Center. She was born on Jan. 30, 1931, in Medford, Wis., the daughter of Arthur Poyda and Helen Tylka, and had a simple, happy, childhood life while living and raising cows and chickens on a small farm.
Irene graduated from Medford High School, home of the Raiders in 1948. She was an excellent student, earning straight A’s except in Phys Ed, where she received her only “C.” She was involved with Chorus, Annual Year Book, Student Council, Camera Club, Publicity Committee, Newspaper Editor, Senior Prom Queen, and was the Salutatorian class officer her senior year. A yearbook quote from Irene reads, “The only important thing in my dreams is school work.” Irene continued her passion for school work by entering a one-year Legal Transcriptionist program at MATC. She graduated in May 1985.
Irene moved to Madison with her best friend, Phyllis Hutson, and they were apartment roomies for several years. Irene met her husband, Wesley Field, the love of her life, at a USO Dance at Truax Military Base, in Madison. She married Wes in 1952 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison and was happily married for 63 years.
Irene worked at Gonstead Clinic of Chiropractic as the Seminar Education Coordinator for 15 years. Irene and Wesley owned Mobile Six N Ten Food Mart, for 30 years, the first convenience store self-service gas station in the local community. They also dabbled in the dry-cleaning business, owning the Mount Horeb Dry Cleaners.
Irene is survived by her children, Thomas (Jan) Field of Boca Raton, Fla., Shelley Froelich of Mesa, Ariz., and Patti (James “Louie”) Filkins of River Falls, Wis.; and grandchildren, Sena Field, Siri Field, Ella Field and Nina Fischbacher; Taylor (Marie) Froelich; and Danielle (Matthew) Robbins, Samuel Filkins and Gina Filkins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wesley Field; parents; sisters, Emily Zimpel and Adeline Werner; brother, Arthur Poyda; and grandson, Christopher Froelich.
A funeral service will be held at the chapel of the EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 315 E. Main St., Mount Horeb, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, with Pastor John Twiton presiding. Lunch will directly follow the service. Burial will follow luncheon at Mount Horeb Union Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be gifted in Irene Field’s name to Hospice Support Foundation, 7755 3rd St. North, Suite 200, Oakdale, MN 55128 or online at www.hospicesupportfoundation.org.
Thank you to the River Falls community for all of the kindness, love and support you provided. From, Irene and Patti
Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
