Harold F. Phillips
HAROLD F. PHILLIPS OBITUARY
Harold F. Phillips, age 84, of Good Samaritan Home, formerly of 5433 Melrose South, Quincy, died on Friday, January 18, 2008 at 9:50 p.m. in the Home. He was born on April 29, 1923 in Fairmont, MN. He was a son of Howard K. and Catherine (Leindecker) Phillips. He married Bernice M. Liesen on October 23, 1947 in St. Mary Catholic Church in Quincy. She survives.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by:
TWO SONS: Thomas J. (Sharon) Phillips of Maywood, MO, & Bradley J. (Jane) Phillips of Ballwin, MO;
THREE DAUGHTERS: Diana (Roger) Holzgrafe of Peoria, IL, Patricia (Dan) McKibben of Indianapolis, IN, and Catherine (Darrel) Burke of Quincy;
ONE SISTER: Dolora Whitney;
SISTER-IN-LAW: Evelyn (Sis) Phillips
EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN: Blake Holzgrafe Jamie (Adam) Shake
Jason Burke Jeremy Burke Andrew Phillips Sarah Phillips
Matthew Phillips Gregory Phillips
2 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN
Gage Shake Loren Shake
He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Donald H. Phillips and Howard K. Phillips, Jr., and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Phillips was an active member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, serving in various capacities.
He was a life-long Chicago Cubs and sports fan.
Harold served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was decorated with a Bronze Star.
He owned and operated Phillips Furniture Showcase for 27 years in Quincy, Illinois.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Harold was well known as a fast-pitch softball and baseball coach. First, he coached for the American Legion Baseball Team. From 1969 – 1983 Harold coached the girls fast-pitch softball team, the Quincy Jets. His teams made three appearances at tournaments on the national level.
He was inducted into the Illinois Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame; Catholic Youth Organization Hall of Fame, and the Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame.
Harold received the Western Illinois University Westerwinds Achievement Award. He also was honored with the Eritz Ostermueller Annual Sports Award from the Quincy Elks Club. Harold was awarded the Golden Deeds Award for his dedication to youth sports. He also received two keys to the city of Quincy. The CYO softball field at Maranatha Park was renamed for, and dedicated to, Harry in 2001 in recognition for his dedication to young people and time with American Legion Baseball and time with the Quincy Jets program.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. in
the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home and 10:30 a.m. in St. Anthony Catholic Church
by the Rev. Thomas Hagstrom. Interment will be in St. Anthony Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a parish wake service at 5:30 p.m.
Memorials are suggested to the Central Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, the C.Y.O. or to Quincy Notre Dame High School.
With Mr. Phillips’s heavy involvement within the community there will be so much to celebrate during these days and weeks ahead. It is never easy to lose a family member – but if one focuses on the contribution they made to the lives of so many – those memories can be comforting.
I’ve often wondered if the paths of Mr. Phillips and my father George W. Rulon as National Director of the American Legion Baseball Program crossed. I know that it is a special person who dedicates their time and energy to be an example of integrity, citizenship, sportsmanship and general good conduct to the youth of America.
The Quincy, Illinois community is a better place thanks to Harold F. Phillips!
I can’t express the sadness that I share with you at this time. I know that words do so very little, but most of all I want you all to know that I love you very much, and cherish each and every one of you.
What a shame it is that it takes death for a family to come together. I have missed you all a great deal ever since Grama died….more than you’ll ever know.
I know that time will heal our heavy hearts. Till then you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Much Love
Lora
My thoughts are with you all.Harold taught me a lot through the years, Especially that pie goes in a different spot. Phil
Dearest Bernice and family,
I am sad to receive the news of Harry’s passing.
My father called me over the weekend to share the news and I wanted all of you to know that perhaps one of the most unlikely persons, a farmers daughter from little Ursa, IL. was so incredibly impacted by my time with him by being a member his Jets squads.
Before I played for Harold, I can remember going to Maranatha Park, with my own dad, to watch his Jets teams play ball. All the while, I hoped to be able to play ball for him…one day.
I was fortunate enough to be able to do just that. Being a part of the Quincy Jets Fastpitch Softball squads of the 70s ranks as one of my highlights in my sports career. Some of my fondest memories are of the long trips we traveled to the various tournaments, softball diamonds, towns, and certainly the teams we were exposed to and played against.
I do, indeed, still have my Quincy Jets red and white softball jacket. When I look at it, all those memories come rushing back. I realize now I was a part of something so much bigger…
The effect of being a part of Harold’s “Harry’s” teams reached farther than perhaps any of you may ever understand. Perhaps one of the best ways to truly let all of you know how much that time meant to me, is to share that I do believe being exposed to that level of excellence that I was a part of…laid the foundation for me to continue my education and even complete a Ph.D.
I do believe that when young people have the opportunities, like I did; those experiences absolutely can lay the foundation for so many other achievements in one’s life.
I hold Harold and all of you, near to my heart. He will always remain for me to be one of the most instrumental, influencial persons in my life. I feel blessed to have been a part of his legecy. You are all in my heart and prayers.
So very sincerely, Dr. Linda C. Hilgenbrinck,
A farmers daughter of William and Janet Hilgenbrinck of Ursa, IL.
And now the…
Program Supervisor for Adapted Physical Education and Visual Impairmments Services, Special Education Services, in the Denton Independent School District, Denton, TX.
I was glad that I could be there for you all the only way I could. I love you all and am very sorry for your loss.
With all my love,
Kathryn Zellar