Philip Raymond Mosbacher

Phil was the tenth of 15 children born to Howard and Lucille Mosbacher; the first of their children born in Placerville. He attended El Dorado High School, played football and soccer, and raised animals for 4-H. He was active in the Saint Patrick Catholic Church Youth Group. An avid outdoorsman from an early age, Phil hunted and roamed the woods near his home with his brothers and friends.

Phil attended American River College then graduated from Humboldt State University with a BS in Forestry. Phil was on the crew team, either in the front stroke position or in the middle “engine room” position because he was so strong. He loved to talk about the time their club team went up against Stanford University in a race and won.

Realizing he wouldn’t meet many girls working in the forest, Phil switched to land surveying and moved to Redding. He became a Professional Land Surveyor in both California and Nevada, and later a Certified Arborist. He worked for Whitson Engineering in Redding and Gene Thorne and Associates in Cameron Park. As a land surveyor, Phil spent much of his time outdoors, chasing off angry dogs and hacking through thick brush.

He joined the El Dorado County Department of Transportation as an Associate Land Surveyor in 2009 and was fortunate to be on a two-person team surveying part of the Rubicon Trail, carrying survey equipment and camping gear deep into Desolation Wilderness. He became the Deputy County Surveyor, then was elected County Surveyor in 2018, serving in that capacity from 2019 to present.

While in Redding, Phil married Karen Challe and had a son, Daniel. They were married for 12 years. Phil’s outdoor adventures continued in Redding and Placerville as he competed in white water racing, climbed Mt. Shasta multiple times, and camped a lot. He was a three-time winner of the John M. Studebaker Wheelbarrow Race, placing second and third multiple times.

In 2002 Phil married Susan Frost Lund and became an instant father to step-daughter Teresa Lund. He told Sue his job as her husband was to make her happy. (He succeeded.) As a devoted father, Phil joined the Boy Scouts of America with Daniel. He built rabbit hutches and sheep pens for Teresa’s 4-H projects. The family went on many camping trips in their old Volkswagen camper van.

Phil was the Cub Master for Pack 86 and later the Scout Master for Troop 88. (88 first rate!) In addition to teaching scouts to hike, backpack, and camp, he also taught them navigation skills. He took them hiking at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, scuba diving at Sea Base in Florida, and exploring at a National Jamboree in West Virginia. Through all of these activities, Phil’s purpose was to guide and lead the boys by example to live the Scout Law to be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. Phil lived the Scout Law and was a wonderful role model for the boys. He mentored 9 Scouts to reach the rank of Eagle, including Daniel. Later Phil became the Chapter Advisor for the Scout’s Honor Society of the Order of the Arrow for many years, even after Daniel aged out of the program.

Phil earned multiple Scouting Awards, including the Silver Beaver Award for exceptional character and distinguished service. He completed Wood Badge, an advanced national leadership program and used those skills in all aspects of his personal and professional life. He received the St. George Emblem for significant and outstanding contributions to the spiritual development of Catholic Youth through Scouting.

In 2000 Phil became involved with Adventure Racing which combined into one event his favorite sports: mountain bike riding, kayaking, hiking, rappelling, and orienteering. He competed in multiple Cal Eco Adventure Race series, the first Primal Quest 10-day race in Telluride in 2002, and the 2003 Primal Quest Race in Lake Tahoe. His team, Adventure El Dorado, won the Perseverance Award in the Telluride race.

Living in gold country, it was inevitable Phil would develop an interest in gold panning and metal detecting. He participated in the 2016 World Gold Panning Festival.

Phil was a licensed Ham Radio Operator and board member of the El Dorado Amateur Radio Club. He participated in Summits On The Air which combined mountaineering and radio operation to make contacts with other HAMs and log points based on the height of the peak. He earned a fun award called a GOAT for reaching 1000 points.

Phil’s latest adventure was Nugget, a yellow lab puppy. Phil was training her to be a hunting dog. It was a wonderful pairing, since Phil described himself as a Labrador Retriever because he didn’t stay mad long, then it was back to “throw me the ball.”

Phil is survived by his wife of 19 years, Sue; son Daniel and step-daughter Teresa; siblings Nancy, Frank, Mary, Mike, Ken, Loretta, John, Don, Peggy, Eileen, Judy, Dave and Greg; plus 38 nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours at Chapel of the Pines (2855 Cold Springs Rd, Placerville, CA) will be on Monday, June 21, from 4 pm – 6 pm followed immediately by a vigil and time for sharing memories until 8pm. Funeral services will be at St. Patrick Catholic Church (3109 Sacramento St, Placerville, CA) on Tuesday, June 22, starting with a rosary at 11:30 a.m., Mass at 12:00 noon, followed by a reception in the church hall. Those who so desire may make a memorial donation in memory of Phil to the Mother Teresa Maternity Home.