I first met Phil Touw (and Ren VandeSteeg too) at Seminary in the 1970s as a newly-returning Vietnam veteran.  I was very insecure and likely dealing with PTSD traumas from my year in Nam.  Meeting them and learning with them and from them was God's greatest gift to me at the time!  As three Vietnam vets we all learned and grew strong together.  Taking summer CPE units with Phil was especially helpful for me as we learned more deeply about ourselves in doing ministry.   This was also a painful time for Phil in the loss of an infant son Eric, and we all leaned more dependently on God and on each other.  Whenever I think of Phil I remember his special smile, his loyal friendship, his tenderness toward others, and especially his ability to relate and connect with everyone.  How we will miss him!  And how we pray God's deepest comfort to all His loved ones!

I was introduced "officially" to Phil through Ren Vandesteeg. Only we had already met before in a puppy handoff at a gas station during our rescue days. Phil became our Hospice Chaplain and one of my best buddies and confidant. Our friendship grew over time and we were a force to be reckoned with at work. We were great teammates with patients, families and our volunteer training was always so insightful and fun. I have never met anyone who could cut off a conversation so professionally and FAST!  "Ok - time to go" and he was out the door. Phil started a lunch group with Blue Skies resident widowers and eventually invited me along every month for several years.  I called it Lunch with the Boys.  Phil - you were the last "boy" and I miss you terribly. No matter what life threw your way these last few years you were always so positive.  I will keep an eye on the figment of your imagination - Christine.  I was honored to know you, to be your friend and to be trusted with your care at the end. I can only imagine the greeting you got at the Rainbow Bridge. Till we meet again....

Thanks, Phil, for so many great memories!

To the family of Phil. He will be Greatly missed by so many of friends, Coworkers, Colleagues,Family. Thank you Jesus for sharing Phil with me for the little while that Phil worked at Blue Skies of Texas Hospice as the Chaplin. I loved our morning talks. He would always listen and we always prayed with each other. I’m Greatful for his friendship.

I’m so sorry of the passing of Phil. May he rest in peace . I worked with Phil when he worked with blue skies of Texas Hospice Chaplin. We would always talk early in the morning when he would arrive to work. I love our morning talk. You will be Greatly Missed by so many friends. Love you Phil until we meet again in Heaven.

I am heartbroken to learn of Phil Touw’s passing. He was more than a friend. He was both a brother-in-arms from our Army service together and a true brother in the sense of family. Our relationship began and grew from the day he entered my office as a young Captain (Chaplain) at the 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery at Fort Bliss , Texas, some 47 years ago. Phil was not your average young Captain reporting for his first duty assignment. He brought with him a unique level of maturity and experience borne of his time as an enlisted infantry soldier with service in Vietnam and seminary following his time as a “grunt.” He used that experience to become both a mentor and an advocate for the battalion’s soldiers. When I went to our motor pool, I could generally find an extra pair of legs under one of the unit’s vehicles. It was Phil talking to and assisting soldiers in their daily routine. Soldiers loved and respected him and they never doubted Phil’s love for them and for his Lord and Savior.
While we never served together again while on active duty, those first years in El Paso forged a bond that established a lifelong friendship. He was such a wonderful and caring man. From our many summer noontime runs in the blazing El Paso sun (Oh how he hated those runs at first!), a friendship emerged that literally weathered the geographic separations that ensued. Over the years, we would get together from time to time and calls were a frequent occurrence up until just a few weeks before his passing. If you spent five minutes around Phil you just knew that he cared for you and that he was there for you. Staying in touch with Phil was truly the gift that kept on giving throughout my life.
Some days you meet someone, and you just know that your friendship was meant to be. That was my relationship with Phil. He loved his wife, he loved his girls, he loved his dogs, and he was my dear friend. I will take that with me to the day of my passing.

Phil and I were best friends for 54 years. We were both enlisted during the Vietnam War. Then met in seminary and were classmates for 4 years. Phil went into the U. S. Army Chaplaincy and went into the Air Force  Chaplaincy.  After military retirement, we continued lunching together monthly for 20 years. Carol, shown with me knew Phil the entire time. God bless you buddy. We did the buddy system together. See you in heaven with Jesus our Commander in Chief.

Chaplin Touw and the Adams Thompson family clicked so well together for so many years had so many good times so many whether it be at the officers clubs or one of our houses I always remember the best times at the officers club after church. Phil and my dad had a really close relationship as I did with beautiful daughters. And one of them I fell down instantly 9with along with this loving family.  I remember feeling such a funny guy family man loved his daughters loved his wife and worked his butt off and also mentored my dad to bring him to where he ended his career rosaria tired Colonel in the army.  I as I called him l has passed on but I am forever grateful that he is in the kingdom of heaven and he has his complete body back as he was laying on the beach in Hawaii with that six pack and the tan body no problems and loving life. 
 always felt our families were very close we had fun together he played game nights together he had dinners together everything was great.  I am saddened that Phil O Touw

I loved Phil because he loved my sister.  Phil radiated joy, peace and an overwhelming love for others. I haven't seen Phil in many years, but I knew Phil and I loved him. He was a messenger from GOD!

OBITUARY

Philip Russell Touw

April 4, 1946 – May 2, 2024

Sunset Northwest Funeral Home

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