Francis Lyle Phillips

In loving memory of our father Francis "Phil" Lyle Phillips who passed away on October 8, 2024 at the age of 90 years. He was born on June 5, 1934 in Flora, IL to Grover Edgar and Adelle Hope (Vincent) Phillips. He had four brothers, the late Vincent, Neil, Donald and Xon Phillips. He married Dianna Mae (White) Phillips on September 14, 1957. He later married Betty Jean (Patterson) Phillips.

Francis was a devoted father to Sheryl "Sheri" (Marc) Fredrick, Anthony "Tony" Phillips, the late Steven Phillips, the late Sheila Wiedmeyer, and stepfather to Lisa Patterson and Mark Patterson.

Francis, affectionately known as "Popo" to many of his grandchildren, Amy (Fredrick) Arenson, Kelly (Kyle) Fredrick/Opahle, Tanya Phillips, Anthony Phillips, Jr., Alyssa Phillips, Sara Phillips, Steven Phillips, Amber Wiedmeyer and the late Madison Wiedmeyer. He was step grandfather to Nicholas Anderson, Cody Patterson, Leah Patterson, and Jason Patterson.

He had such a fondness for the great grandchildren that he knew. He "loved those little kids" Brantley Arenson, Avery and Skylar Opahle. He also had 6 other great grandchildren and 3 step great grandchildren.

Francis enlisted in the Korean War 1953 and later enlisted in the Air Forces in 1965. He was hired by Allis-Chalmers, now Siemens Energy, in West Allis, Wl where he worked and retired from after 40 years. After retirement he opened and ran various businesses and finally settled into being a full-time farmer. One of his greatest accomplishments was designing and building his home by himself on the 50 acres of farmland he bought in Sullivan, Wl where he planted corn and soybeans. He later then moved and purchased another property in Aztalan, Wl with his daughter Sheri and son-in-law Marc, where he again built another home and farmed 40 acres with his so-in-law until he retired from farming. After farming, he built beautiful furniture for himself and the family, traveled, fished, restored trucks and farm tractors, a lawn mowing expert, he rode motorcycles, loved CNN news and a Culver's Burger connoisseur. Francis basically never stopped recreating himself.

He was one that would not buy a lot of new when old could be repaired or he could recreate it himself. He was a funny, quick with quips and had a smile and blue eyes that just reflected his warm and funny personality. He was his daughter's father and as his wife Betty would say "Sheri and Phil are 2 peas in a pod."

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, wives, his son Steven and daughter Sheila.

A Celebration of Life services will be held at Pagenkopf Funeral Home in Oconomowoc on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 1:00 PM with a  visitation for family and friends starting at 11:00 AM until time of  Celebration.

A private family Burial will be held at Hoffman Cemetery in Rome.