Darlene "Nitzy" Field

Darlene "Nitzy" Joan (Gillette) Field passed away peacefully on February 7, 2013 at her Oaknoll Retirement Residence in Iowa City, Iowa, as a result of Parkinson's disease complications.
Nitzy was born September 17, 1934 to Welberne and Thora (Skalet) Gillette of Black Earth. Welberne called her "Itsy Bitsy Nitzy;" he died in 1938 when Nitzy was only 4 years old. Thora and Nitzy moved to Madison, WI, where Thora was a first and second grade teacher. However, Nitzy and her mother returned to Black Earth frequently on weekends to be with the close-knit extended family. Nitzy graduated from Central High School in Madison with honors. She enrolled in the first class of St. Olaf College's four year nursing program and graduated with a BSN with honors in 1956.
Nitzy married Howard M Field on August 25, 1956, at Lake Edge Lutheran Church, in Madison, Wisconsin. Nitzy worked first as a public health nurse, and then stayed home to raise their three children. She completed her Master of Arts with a major in Nursing at the University of Iowa in 1992, and then worked as an Iowa City Hospice Nurse. Nitzy helped establish the parish nurse program at Zion Lutheran Church, and recently helped develop a movement support program for people with Parkinson's in Iowa City. She and Howard enjoyed many hours of gardening together, for themselves and for Project Green. Nitzy shared her garden joy over the years by blessing many people with freshly-cut flowers.
Survivors include her husband of fifty-six years, three children, seven grandchildren, and one niece. Surviving children include Karen Edlund of Rochester, MN; Jim (Patricia) of Fort Wayne, IN; and Mark (Deb) of Madison, WI. Grandchildren include Alyssa Edlund (Salt Lake City, UT), Erik Edlund (Madison, WI), Paul Edlund (Rochester, MN), Hannah Field (North Manchester, IN), Sarah Field (Fort Wayne, IN), Anna Field (Madison, WI), and Luke Field (Madison, WI). Ginger Field of Sacramento, CA is her surviving niece.
Services will be held in two locations. Visitations will start two hours before each service, and luncheons will be held immediately following. The first service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, 310 Johnson Street in Iowa City, Iowa on Monday, February 11th at 11 AM. A second service will be held at Vermont Lutheran Church, 9886 Vermont Church Road, Black Earth, Wisconsin on Wednesday, February 13th at 11 AM. Burial will be at the Vermont Lutheran Church Cemetery. Arrangements are being made by Lensing Funeral Home in Iowa City, Iowa and Ellestad Funeral Home in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to friends Donna Chen, Denise Gannon, Louise Kruse, and Carol Tippe for their loving care and support for Nitzy and her family in recent months.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Vermont Lutheran Church or the Zion Lutheran Church Wellness Ministries Program.