March 10, 1923 – October 7, 2025
Pauline G. Odegaard Field, 102, of Austin and formerly of Northwood and Plymouth, passed away peacefully Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at the Cedars of Austin.
Funeral Services will be held 11am Friday, October 17, 2025 at Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 1st Ave. South, Northwood, IA. She will be laid to rest at Silver Lake Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Northwood.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services.
Pauline Georgia Claus was born March 10, 1923 at the family farm near Plymouth, IA to Herbert W. and Minnie C. (Carls) Claus. She attended Plymouth Consolidated School through 8th grade, and went on to graduate from Plymouth High School in 1941. She continued her education at Waldorf College in Forest City, IA, majoring in business and music. She worked at Emmons National Bank, Jacob E. Decker Co. and Manly State Bank where she was a cashier. In 1944 she married William L. Odegaard and they were blessed with a daughter, Bonnie K. and two sons, Paul W. and Roger M. Odegaard. They farmed many years near Plymouth, Osage and Kensett, finally purchasing their own farm near Northwood. They always had a big garden and enjoyed working in it, producing most of their own food. After his retirement, the couple moved to Northwood and Pauline worked at the Court House for the Engineers.
After William passed away, years later she married Irving Field, a friend from high school. They spent their winters in Texas and summers on the farm near Nora Springs. They did a lot of traveling and saw 49 states! They took several cruises and visited relatives in Fairbanks, AK. Their first love was their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. When traveling they always looked for a church to attend on Sundays. They were faithful members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage. Irving passed away in September of 2015 and Pauline moved to Austin, MN to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law. She was a state officer of the National Assembly of Bank Women, a member of the church circle, and played the organ and piano at Waldorf College. She accompanied her first husband, William, who was a great singer, and also played for Rock Creek Men’s Quartette.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Bonnie (Lowell) Schlotzhauer of Austin, Minnesota; sons, Paul (Carol) Odegaard of Lake Mills, and Roger (Janie) Odegaard of Northwood; grandchildren, Bryan (Kimberly) Odegaard, Lisa (Barry) Wangsness, Adam Odegaard, Molly Odegaard, Sara (Gary) Grena, Rachel (Timothy) Knutson, Erin Schnoor, and Joanne Schlotzhauer; great-grandchildren, Andrew, William, Joseph, Grace, Paul, Samuel, Isabelle, Nicholas, Erich, Jacob, Carter, Erika, Ella, and Adeline; four great-great grandchildren; Irving’s family, Allan (Kay) Field, Ann (Al) Schallock and Ronda (Scott) Smith; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, William Odegaard; parents; Herbert and Minnie Claus; brothers, Russell William, Carl Jacob, and Herbert Ernest “Ernie” Claus; cherished grandfather, Jacob Claus; an infant son who died soon after birth; her second husband of 14 years, Irving Field; and an infant grandson, Jesse Odegaard.
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