I want to thank all of you that were able to come to the service for my brother Phil today.
Thoughts and prayers to you all who were a part of Phil’s life.


March 17, 1979 - St Patrick’s Day Parade

I met Phil in 1972 and we became good friends from the start. These were very special times as we were kicking and scratching our way into adulthood. We both loved Firesign Theater and we shared the rent on a couple of houses during the early seventies. He was very humble about his artistic abilities and was unafraid to try new things. One weekend, we headed to a Shawnee City park where an outdoor shop was giving free hang gliding flights. We both tried it and caught the fever. Within a month, we had our own hang glider and would take the trek to Piney’s Mound in Iola, KS. Phil once joked, “Kansas is so flat that when your dog runs away from home, you can see him for three days.” 
Phil was quite an accomplished mechanic and always had some type of off-road motorcycle he was riding or working on. In 1974, he let me ride his new Honda Elsinore “once” and I didn’t make it 100 feet before nearly running it into a tree. In his calm voice he said, “Maybe you should just stick to hang gliding off mountains where you’re safe.” 
Phil was very generous with his time and with whatever you needed. I will always cherish my friendship with Phil. There was an unspoken camaraderie and friendship among a few of us that continued through our lives. We all knew that we had been born in a magical time in history - a time of spiritual wonder and growth unique to many people our age. We knew we had been put into a place in life that we saw as a gift of our existence. We were born into something huge and precious at the cusp of major changes in consciousness in the world. There was rarely a time that we just had casual conversations without somehow plunging into the mysteries of our spiritual being. We shared a vision of hope in the future of mankind which I’m certain he carried with him as he rode the backroads on his freedom machine. I will miss you brother. 
Tim Fitzpatrick

My condolences to the family.  Phil's dad and mine were yardmasters at the UPRR.  There are pictures of our dads together with Phil and I as infants. We followed in their footsteps enjoying railroad life for many years, and covered the outfield for the UP softball team for several years.  This is a big loss. He was a peaceful,  calm, humorous, intelligent man.  

May the good Lord bless  and  keep the family safe in these trying  times. My prayers  will be with you all. 

Flint Hills 2009, Phil leading the way !!

The sudden loss of Phil has shook my soul to the core. I met Phil in 2014 I believe at my first Backroads Touring Kansas annual Flint Hills Stampede and when I was introduced to him I was immediately drawn to his very special personality! We became fast friends that weekend and we have since traveled 1000’s of miles together through at least 9 states and Phil made every day and every mile something special to remember! As another friend once told me, “I’d ride straight through the gates of hell with Phil”…  He was a leader and a Legend among those lucky enough to know him! I will forever miss my riding buddy and forever cherish our friendship and memories together.. Ride in perpetuity my friend, ride on…

Each Spring, year after year, Dozens of Dual Sport Riders converged on Eureka Springs Arkansas. Phil and I rode Hundreds of miles together there. I never met a friend I could count on more. 


I got acquainted with Phil through the dual sport motorcycle community. Later he was one of the first to volunteer to donate design help for our marketing materials for our Lions Club sponsored ride in Garnett. Always dependable, always had a story. Just an all around great guy. We only knew him in this limited role, but like the rest of you we will miss him greatly and think of him often.

Such an untimely loss of a kind neighbor. Phil was wonderfully handy, quick to offer advice or assistance, especially if it provided the perfect excuse to utilize one of his machines, gadgets or tools. I’d swear tinkering was in his blood nearly as much as riding. And he clearly loved being helpful. Husband in hospital? Tree down? Yard work/advice that’s over your head? You just want to gripe about something? Phil’s your guy. He seemed as steady and even-keeled as they come. I’ll miss his low chuckle and observations about people, his smile and wave from across the street. And who could forget that crazy Walter riding in his bucket on the back of Phil’s mower? Now that was something to see. RIP

With deepest regrets. I knew Phil from riding BTK events in Kansas, he was such a great man & riding partner. Jerry Valdez  Holton,  KS. 

OBITUARY

Phillip Paul Denk

July 24, 1952 – July 19, 2023

Newcomer's White Chapel Funeral Home & White Chapel Cemetery

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