James ‘Bill’ Phillips

Bill was born November 2, 1943 in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, the son of Raymond and Lucy (Hurkmans) Phillips Sr. Bill served his country in the United States Navy, worked for Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad for many years and was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Perkins. He was united in marriage to Eileen Sinnaeve on August 25, 1995.

Bill is survived by his wife, Eileen; sons, Joseph (Julie) Phillips, James Phillips, Charles (Laurie) Phillips and William (Marchelle) Phillips; daughters, Sherry (John) Palequin, Mara (Richard) McInerney, Pepsi Lynn Cherry and Victoria Cerny; 20 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren; brothers, Raymond (Bonnie) Phillips and Rodney (Linda) Phillips; sisters, Dawn (Arland) LaVigne and Lorna (Angel) Ayala, numerous nieces and nephews and a special cousin/little brother, John Sarasin.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sons, Michael Phillips and Larry Pare and a brother, Richard Phillips.

The family will receive friends on Monday, March 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Military honors will be presented at 1 p.m. by the Gladstone American Legion Post 71. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 p.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Perkins. A luncheon will follow in the parish hall.

To leave the family a message of condolence, go to http://www.skradskifuneralhomes.com.