Frederick F. Fifield

Frederick Francis Fifield, age 87, of Bellevue, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, December 6, 2018 at Bethany Home in Dubuque.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bellevue. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm-7:00 pm on Friday, January 11, 2019  and 9:00 am -10:00 am on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at Hachmann Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Bellevue. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, immediately after the funeral Mass, with Military Honors conducted by the Bellevue American Legion Post #273.

Fred was born July 30, 1931 in Cedar Rapids, the son of Marine PFC Fred W. and Blanche R. (Shimanek) Fifield. An Eagle Scout, in 1949 he graduated from Oxford Junction High School where he participated in varsity baseball, basketball, and vocal music.  He attended the University of Iowa, graduating in 1953. Fred served his country in the US Army during the years of 1953-1955 and married Larrayne Jo Alyea on August 19, 1961 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oxford Junction.

Fred started his business career as a value engineer with several technology-oriented industrial companies including Medtronic Corporation of St. Anthony Village, Minnesota. In 1977 he was named the National Value Engineer of the year. 

The final 21 years of his career were spent as Director of Management Engineering for Mercy Hospitals, initially in Des Moines and then Dubuque, from which he retired in 1996. During that time he authored the handbook, Hospital Organization & Productivity Effectiveness for hospitals wanting to improve cost, quality, and morale.

While he was with Mercy/Des Moines, his family resided in Ankeny, where Fred especially enjoyed attending his daughters’ dance recitals and following AHS’s girls six-on-six state championship basketball teams. 

For most of three decades, Fred was a top-level Iowa District tennis player, participating in many tournaments and passing on the love of the sport to family members and friends. Personal highlights included participating alongside his sons in father/son doubles competitions and witnessing a niece, Anne Gorde of Minneapolis, Minnesota, perform as top player and co-captain for the University of Minnesota. He had a special fondness for the Mississippi Valley Open tennis tournament held each July in Dubuque. 

A person of devout faith, Fred also found great enjoyment in walking, shuffleboard, photography, and the outdoors.

Fred is survived by his wife, Jo; children, Lory (Ken) Sabers of Dubuque, Jay (Dori) Fifield of Des Moines, Andra Fifield of Bellevue, and Paul (Lindsay) Fifield of Manassas, Virginia; 11 grandchildren, Meredith (Aaron) Lehman, Noah & Jared Sabers; Matthew, Christopher & Nicholas Fifield; Jordan (Kathleen) Barrett; Haley, Kyleigh, Luke & Leah Fifield; great grandchildren, Vash and Marceline Lehman; a sister, Carolyn Cavanaugh; and a brother-in-law, David Gorde.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Marilyn Gorde; and a brother-in-law, Steve Cavanaugh.

Memorials can be made to Bethany Home in Dubuque or the organ repair fund at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bellevue.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hachmannfuneralhome.com