Thomas W Fields

Thomas W. Fields passed on Sunday Oct 14, 2012 at Woodland Manor Nursing Home in Attica, Indiana. Tom was born on Oct 11, 1919 to John C. and Effie L. Fields in Wellington, Kansas. Tom attended Montezuma school where he, his wife Frances and son and daughter had Miss Ayers as their 3rd grade teacher! He graduated from MHS in 1938 where he had played on the basketball team. In 1938, along with his friend Joe Woods, went to CCC camp in Henryville, Utah where he played baseball among his other duties. Tom was the first man drafted from Montezuma in WWII in the Army. In memory of his service, his name will be on the bricks at the Montezuma Veterans Memorial. Tom married Frances Toro on May 23, 1942 and she became a war bride. Tom was in the Army longer than some because he was considered essential to the war effort as he participated in the land lease program of releasing all the military vehicles. When he returned to the states he got to meet his son, Victor who was born on July 24, 1944! He worked at the Booster Station where he aso played baseball! He and his wife and son then moved for a time to Hungry Horse, Montana where he worked on the dam. While there, Frances and Vic were able to attend one of the last meetings of the Blackfoot Nation. When the family returned to Montezuma they eventually moved into Frances's family home, which when sold in 1986 had been in the family for 100 year! Tom then spent the rest of his career as a Union carpenter, of which in Montezuma, he held several offices and was instrumental in the buying and selling of the Union Hall building which has just recently been torn down. He told the story that as a child he remembered cars going by his family home and men were shooting at his father because he also had belonged to the Union, which was not well thought of in those days. His last job was working on construction at the Lilly's Plant in Clinton, IN. Frances once asked him if he could live anywhere in the world where would it be and he said Montezuma, IN! Tom enjoyed his golfing days and was a lifetime member of the Montezuma Fish and Game Club. Frances passed on in 1985 and in 1986 he married Jeanne Akers Mathas. He then moved to Jeanne's family farm outside of Montezuma, where they lived for several years before moving to Rockville. Jeanne who was a kind and gracious lady then passed on in 2000. Tom spent his later years playing Mexican Train in West Union at the Juritsma home with friends.He became well known at the local restaurants, Janet's and Davey's in Montezuma and Benjamin's in Rockville where he enjoyed visiting with all the employees and owners of the establishments. He became the unofficial Montezuma historian and enjoyed recalling the past with whoever cared to hear the stories. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his 2 companions in life, Frances and Jeanne and a stepson Kim Mathas. Survivors include; his son Victor (Sharon) Fields of Montezuma, grandchildren Chris (Christan) & Heather Fields. Great grandchildren; Caitlyn, Hannah, Lauren and Sean.  Daughter Barbara Keller (Roger) of Attica, grandson Curtis Keller (Kristin) of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. Stepchildren; LeeAnn Stewart (Gary) and family and Alisa Mathas and family. Special friends, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hall of Rockville, Sam Phillips of Indianapolis, Jack Wilburn of Montezuma and his longtime dining companion Betty Jennings of Terre Haute. Visitation will be on Friday Oct 19, 2012 from Noon to 1pm at the Montezuma Presbyterian Church with the Service to be held at 1pm with Rev. Mark Olsen officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church of the Montezuma Elementary School, Box 400, 450 Strawberry Road, Montezuma, IN., 47862, for the financial support of staff and students. In his memory, please visit your local nurisng homes and assisted living facilities. Brown-Mack Funeral Home in Montezuma is handling the arrangements.

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