John L. Phillips
CHEYENNE, Wyoming --John Phillips, 80, passed away peacefully at home with family by his side on Saturday, January 7, 2012.
Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2012, at First Presbyterian Church, 220 West 22nd Street, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001. Funeral arrangements by Schrader Funeral Home, 2323 Carey Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, John Austin Cheley Foundation, or the charity of one's choice.
John was born on March 28, 1931, in Muscatine, Iowa, to Clarence Payne and Anna Ferne Shinabarger Phillips. He married Judy Benfer on October 6, 1955, in Davenport, Iowa.
He graduated from Muscatine High School and received a Bachelor of Science in industrial economics with minors in accounting and general engineering from Iowa State University where he was also a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
He was employed by Caterpillar Tractor Company in management for 37 years, retiring in 1994.
He volunteered for military service and served in the Army with the Big Red One.
He enjoyed spending time with friends and family and summers at the cabin in Colorado were very special to him. His greatest passion was his family. For them, John (Oupa) was a source of wisdom, unconditional love, inspiration, and joy.
Survivors include his wife, Judy Phillips of Cheyenne, Wyoming; three children, two daughters, Sharon Klotz and husband, Kevin, of Thornton, Colorado, and Cathy Manhart and husband, Scott, of Billings, Montana, and a son, Craig Philips and wife, Kathy, of Grimes, Iowa; six grandchildren, Danny and Anne Klotz; Katie and Kenton Manhart; Becca and Kimmi Phillips; also surviving are two sisters, Ann Baker of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Mary Arnold of Rock Island, Illinois; a sister-in-law, Joan Phillips of Muscatine, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents and brother, Robert Phillips.