Philip J. Dorweiler

Philip J. Dorweiler, Jr., 97, passed away on June 12, 2023 at the Edgewater Retirement facility. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 16, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Augustin’s Catholic Church. A reception following the funeral mass will celebrate Phil’s at the Embassy Club West, 520 Market Street, West Des Moines, IA 50266.

Phil was born in West Bend but grew up in Ft. Dodge where he attended high school and served as a part time announcer for a local radio station. Upon graduation in 1944, he immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a Yeoman on the CINCPAC staff of Admiral Chester Nimitz during the last few years of the war. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor and then Guam as the war effort moved closer to the Japanese forces. After their surrender, he then served on the USS Arthur Middleton until his discharge in the summer of 1946. With the help of the GI Bill, he enrolled at Drake University where he earned his law degree in 1950. That same year, he married Martha Ann (Kewpie) Kirke on September 2nd and thus began a long, happy marriage that only ended when Kewpie passed away in 2010. The large, extended Kirke clan became the surrogate family he never enjoyed as an only child; Kewpie’s sister and brothers were a constant presence in his life up until the day he died.

He began his law career as the General Counsel for the Bill Curphy Construction company and in 1952 joined the municipal bond practice of the Rogers Law Firm. In 1958, the Rogers firm merged with the Bannister, Carpenter, Ahlers and Cooney firm where he continued practicing municipal bond law until his retirement at the end of 1999. He was the co-founder of the National Association of Bond Lawyers in 1978 and remained active with this organization for many years. His association with the Ahlers&Cooney law firm was a source of great joy and pride as the professional relationships he developed there yielded many lifelong friends that he remained close to well after his retirement.

After retirement from his law practice, Phil kept very busy by serving as a volunteer on the State of Iowa Banking Board; the Iowa Railway Finance Authority; and the West Des Moines Water Utility Board. Phil was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and was also quite attached to the Okoboji community as he maintained a residence there for many fun filled summers.

Phil was a larger than life character affectionately known by most of his friends as “Dr. Dorweiler”. He was well known for his good-natured practical jokes and his liberal use of “phony” business cards that had him serving as everything from an Ambassador, to an astronaut, to a food critic. His impersonations sometimes got him into trouble but they were a constant source of amusement to his wife, family and friends.

Phil is survived by three children, Kirke (Beth) Dorweiler of West Des Moines, Robert (Jody) Dorweiler of Urbandale, and Mary Ann (Chris) Gordon of Riva, Maryland. Preceding him in death were his wife, Kewpie; his parents, Philip and Jennie Dorweiler; and his oldest child, Nancy (George) Johnson. He was also blessed with 8 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews that he treasured dearly. He also leaves behind his close friend, Liz Frink, with whom he enjoyed many golden years after losing his wife Kewpie.

In lieu of flowers, Phil wished that contributions be made to the Edgewater Retirement Facility Good Samaritan fund.