Edna Verlea Fielder, 84, of Galesburg, died at 2:27 a.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at Seminary Manor. She preferred to be called by her middle name, Verlea.
Verlea was born October 10, 1939, in Rock Island, the daughter of Mort and Lila (Mitchell) Vance. She grew up as an only child on farms near Monmouth and Seaton, both in West Central Illinois. She married Robert L. “Bob” Fielder on July 24, 1965, in East Galesburg. He preceded her in death on January 18, 2005, after nearly 40 years of marriage.
She is survived by her son, Ric Fielder, of Galesburg, and a granddaughter, Heather Marie Fielder, of Muscatine, Iowa. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents.
Verlea graduated from Aledo High School in 1957. After graduating high school, she attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, for one year. She received her RN in 1961 as a member of the first-ever graduating class of Presbyterian St. Luke’s Diploma School of Nursing (later known as Rush-Presbyterian) in Chicago. After her son was born, while pursuing her career in nursing, she obtained a bachelor’s degree from Knox College. She worked as a Registered Nurse at both Cottage and St. Mary’s Hospitals in Galesburg. She taught Inservice Education in the latter years of her career at St. Mary’s.
Verlea was a life-long animal lover. She often reminisced about childhood pets on the Monmouth and Seaton farms, including her pony, Lady Lightfoot, and her dog, Buster. Most recently, the apple of her eye was her hound dog, Arlyne (“Arly”), who now lives with Ric.
Verlea enjoyed knitting, crocheting, quilting, sewing, and attending Aledo homecoming events. She was a talented and exceptional cook. When Bob was alive, they liked to travel out West, particularly to Arizona.
Cremation will be accorded. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral and Cremation Services of Galesburg. A further celebration of Verlea’s life will be held on what would have been her 85th birthday, October 10, at the New Windsor Depot, 110 S. 5th Ave., New Windsor, IL 61465, from 4 to 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the animal shelter where Verlea adopted Arly: the Ark, 477 IL-26, Lacon, IL 61540; Hospice Compassus, 799 N. Henderson St., Galesburg, IL 61401; and/or The Knox County Humane Society, 1855 Windish Drive #9770, Galesburg, IL 61401. Online condolences and memories may be shared on the funeral home’s website at www.h-p-w.com.
