John Stephen Phillips, 62, passed away Friday, May 28, 2021 at his home in West Des Moines. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 6, 2021 at Journey Church in Urbandale followed by a funeral service at 4 p.m. at the church.
John was born April 9, 1959, in Detroit, Michigan to Samuel and Juanita Phillips. He graduated from Frasier High in 1977 and Valley Forge Military Academy in 1987. He joined the Army in 1985 and earned a final rank of First Lieutenant in the Army Signal Corps. He became a Christian in his late teens. He attended Des Moines First for over twenty years, and Journey Church since 2011.
John was married to Julia Ingram in 1989 and three children were born to them, Jerilyn, Kirk, and Lola. They moved to West Des Moines, Iowa, in 1994. They were married 24 years.
John was an avid model rocketeer, pinewood derby modelist, outdoors enthusiast, shortwave radio operator, reader, and student of electronics among his many hobbies. His ham radio call, N9JXU, has been his since 1989. Hours and hours were devoted to Royal Rangers and Boy Scouts of America, helping children learn many things, especially building pinewood derby cars. He worked for a number of different companies, including Binks Manufacturing, Lucent Technologies, Emerson, Interbay Technologies, Verizon and most recently for Fiber Utilities.
John is survived by his children, Jerilyn, Kirk, and Lola Phillips; siblings, Sam and Bonnie Phillips, Joe and Vinnie Phillips, Lynn (Phillips) Chance, Ruth and Dave (Phillips) Dillie, Philip Phillips and Delores “Mena” Dix; and brother-in-law, Jan Krakowiak.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Karen Krakowiak; niece, Amy Krakowiak; and brother-in-law, Jay “Douglas” Chance.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Royal Rangers.
