Irene Kunalaaq Schene (Field) passed on peacefully in her own home in Fairbanks, Alaska

on Sunday the 29th of September 2024 at the age of 89 due to Alzheimer’s Disease.

Irene was born May 19th, 1935, in Noorvik, Alaska to Joe & Maggie Field. She moved to

Fairbanks in 1955, and it was there in the mid-sixties she met and later married James Wm

Schene (of Batesville, Indiana). They married in Fairbanks on January 13, 1969. Jim worked

as a Journeyman Electrician who retired after 35 years with the IBEW local 1547 and

resides in Fairbanks.

Irene’s early life was marked with tragedy at only eight years of age when her mother

Maggie died from TB. She and siblings Ivan & Bertha were passed among several families

while their Papa Joe worked as captain of a river barge. Papa Joe later remarried, and the

family reunited and grew with more children. Irene eventually moved to Fairbanks and

began working various jobs and enjoying the city life and all its entrapments. A very hard

worker with a strong work ethic and great tenacity - she would often talk about washing

dishes at the Traveler’s Inn and sewing with Laura Wright - who encouraged her to get her

SSN so she could pay taxes. And, even when she no longer worked outside of the home,

she would rarely be found with idle hands. Always working on projects around the home,

cooking, sewing, cleaning - never lazy!

Irene loved her husband Jim fiercely, and her children & grandchildren dearly. But her

greatest love was Jesus! She was radically saved in the early 70’s through the radio ministry

of Cabin Prayer Meeting of the Air (James & Helen Barefoot of Polar Evangelism) which

aired on KJNP from North Pole, Alaska. Her life is a true testament of the transforming

power of God. Her life became one of service to God by spreading the Gospel and of

service to others with a happy & gregarious spirit that spread joy & laughter wherever she

went. [Philippians 4:4] All who met her became family & soon realized that every other

phrase they heard from her would be ‘taikuu, Jesus!’ or ‘Praise God!’. Her thankful spirit &

language was infectious – one couldn’t help but smile & be thankful, too. [Philippians 4:6]

She was very outspoken about the Gospel & her relationship with Jesus - always praising

the Lord & sharing her testimony with everyone. Strangers were never strangers for very

long. She loved learning, exploring, & was always ready to ‘take a ride’. She helped many

friends & family members from the villages by driving them around town to shop or visit.

(Her actual driving, however, is a whole other story...iykyk). She did love to laugh and have

fun - she often enjoyed raucous game nights that would last into the wee hours of the

morning with loud laughter and lots of snacks! She could often be found praying in English

and in Inupaiq in the middle of the night or sitting at the table in the morning with her Bible

in front of her. She was a tenacious prayer warrior -not only for her family, children, and

grandchildren -but for every person that she met! Even if she forgot their name she would

pray, “you know who I mean, Lord!”

The day she left this earth was the day she lived for - the day she met her Savior, Jesus, face

to face. [Philippians 1:21] Her only request would have been that each of you right now

would turn your life over to Jesus Christ & be saved by grace through faith! “Taikuu, Jesus!

Thank You for loving us just the way we are!” [Philippians 1:3-6]

Irene is survived by her husband of 55 years, Jim; her son, Jim (Crunchy); her daughters:

Veda Rae, Cindy, April (Doll), & Kena (Na); many beloved grandchildren; and many loved

great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, most of her siblings, Uncles

Louie & AJ, her first son, her eldest daughter - Isabell (Babe), & several grandchildren &

great grandchildren. (complete list below)

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, June 28th, 2025, in Fairbanks so that family &

friends can plan for travel. In lieu of flowers Irene’s family requests that donations be made

to KJNP in North Pole, Alaska, or to the Fairbanks Food Bank. Taikuu.

Irene is survived by Husband: Jim Schene – Fairbanks, AK (FBX); Son-in-law: Jerry Rice –FBX. Daughter: Veda Rae (Mulluk) Patterson – Noorvik, AK (ORV) & kids: Murphy Patterson

Jr & Amelia Kingik & kids: Murphy Patterson III; Denali, Drezdan, & Kieran Patterson;

Zantaya & Da’rell Kingik. Thomas Sampson & Lucas Sookiyak. Isabell Patterson, & kids:

Melody; Iris. William Patterson. Kierstan & Stan Harvey & kids: Tristan; Zeke; Elijah. Leona

Patterson & Andrew Nakarak & kids: Bryce; Liam; Griffin; Brooke. Christian Patterson &

child Sarah. Son: James ‘Crunchy’ Schene & Rose Alexia –FBX; Daughter-in-law: Dawn

Miller –FBX; & kids: Jimmy & Kallista Schene -Barrie, Ontario, Canada; Zach Schene & Katie

Schene -FBX; Jarek & Victoria Miller -Barrie, Ont, CAN; Jordan Miller & child Shyahva -FBX.

Daughter: Cindy (Smith) & Chip Fields - Kotzebue, AK (OTZ) & kids: Christina Fields -

Wasilla, AK; Loren Fields & Sherry Horner & kids: Conner & Adalynn -Palmer, AK; Danielle &

Ryan Rock, & child Lacey -Pt Hope/Anchorage, AK; Laura; Devin; -OTZ. Daughter: April

‘Doll’ & Greg Pugh -Nibley, Utah & kids: Harlee & Alex Harvey & kids: Harper, Asher,

Alexander, Ambrose, Atticus -Pt Hope, AK; Melanie Holland & kids: Greysen; Riley -FBX.

Delaina; Giana -Nibley, Utah. Daughter: Kena ‘Na’ (Field) Johnson, James Johnson, & child

Sarah – FBX. Grandson: Sean & Jamie Rice -North Pole, AK & kids: Kacey Woodruff &

Christian Reynolds, & kids: Jr; Ava; & baby in March -Enterprise, Alabama; Jazlyn Anderson-

Rice & child Yoselin -Hertford, North Carolina; Isabelle Rice & child Citlalli -Denver,

Colorado. Grandson: Corey Rice –FBX & kids: Corey Jr ‘Bubba’ & Alyssa Rice, & kids Piper;

Everlee –Cleveland, TX; Skyler Rice -FBX; Stacia Rice; Sundai Rice -Houston, TX; Christian

Rice –FBX. Granddaughter: Leisha ‘Atting’ Rice & kids: Jason Rice; Jayla (Schloesser) &

Kenny Evans, & child Royal –FBX. Sister: Bertha ‘Boota’ Wells –ORV; Sister: Vernetta (Nay)

Moberly -Anchorage, AK

Preceded in death by: Father & Mother Joe & Maggie Field, & Stepmother Pauline Field,

Infant/Child Siblings: Irene, Helen, David Field, -ORV. Brother-in-law Ak St Trooper Kim Nay

-OTZ. Daughter Isabell ‘Babe’ Field Rice -FBX. Infant Son Lockhardt. Uncles: Earl Louie

Schene -Chicken, AK & Adrian J Schene -FBX. Brother Ivan Field, Sister-in-law Ramona

Field. Great-Grandson Kenneth Ballot. Brother William Field. Brother-in-law Frank Wells.

Granddaughter Sarah Patterson & 5 Great-Grandchildren: Dawnielle, Dezman, Jacob,

Iqagin, & Jewelz –ORV