Hildred Maxine Sloan Field, 85, of Hamburg died at Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg on Thursday morning, Oct. 8, 2009. She was born on May 18, 1924, the daughter of Dodds and Velma (Irvin) Sloan in Blanchard, Mo.

Maxine attended school in Blanchard and Coin before moving with her parents to Clarinda.  She was Iowa state shorthand champion her senior year at Clarinda High School, graduating with the class of 1942.

After graduation, she was for a period of time a telephone operator, where she underwent one of the most saddening events of her life.  She was operating the switchboard the night the news came in about the terrible loss of life the Clarinda and Red Oak National Guard suffered in World War II at the Kaserine Pass battle in North Africa.  There were 34 deaths, and notification of kin came through her switchboard.

She later became a receptionist and secretary at the Lisle Corp. in Clarinda.

Maxine married John D. Field at the home of her parents in Clarinda on Feb. 2, 1947.  They lived in Tarkio where she became secretary to the Tarkio College Housing Authority, moving on to Columbia, Mo., while John completed his degree in Journalism.  At Columbia, Maxine became personal secretary to the university treasurer.

In 1951, they moved to Hamburg after purchasing The Hamburg Reporter newspaper.  They sold the weekly newspaper and retired in 2004.

Maxine and John became parents of a son, Dan, in 1950, and a daughter, Polly, in 1953.
Maxine worked part time at the Reporter office.  In 1968 she was named executive director of Park Washington Plaza, the government housing project in Hamburg, and served in that position until 1990.  After retirement she was named a member of the Plaza Board.

She was a member of the Hamburg American Legion Auxiliary, and became president of that group.  She was also a member of the Grape Hospital Auxiliary.

Survivors include her husband, John, of Hamburg; son Dan Field of Osage Beach, Mo.; daughter Polly Bromert and husband Dave of Liberty, Mo.; three grandchildren:  Nick Bromert of Liberty, Chris Field of Des Moines, and Kelly Field of Des Moines; one great-grandson, Cohen of Des Moines; and many friends.

Preceding her in death were her parents, sister Essie Lovitt and grandson Andy Bromert.

Maxine died after a long, adventurous, useful, and fulfilling life.  She had traveled to each of Iowa's 99 counties, all 50 states and 28 countries.

Memorial services were Oct. 12 at the Hamburg Cemetery with Rev. Jan Phillips officiating. Inurnment followed the services.

Remembrances and condolences may be left at www.gudefuneralhomes.com.

Rash-Gude Funeral Home in Hamburg handled the arrangements.