Phillip E. Naffziger

Phillip E. Naffziger, 88, passed away on Monday, November 11, 2024 at Allure of Walnut in Walnut, IL.

Phillip was born on December 4, 1935 in Princeton, IL the son of Eugene Y. and Elsie (Bullington) Naffziger. After graduating from Princeton High School, Phil attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.  During college, Phil was an active member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and served in the Army National Guard.  Phil was also an International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) participant, living and working with farm families in Germany.  After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Illinois, Phil returned to the family farm and continued his farming career until his time of passing. Upon his return he met a beautiful high school English teacher with a southern drawl.  She stole his heart and he married Elizabeth “Lib” L. Long on August 17, 1958 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She preceded him in death on June 28, 2024.

Phil was a lifelong learner and had many interests and activities throughout his life.  Getting his pilot’s license in college, he flew many years and maintained an airstrip on the farm.  His love of travel also included planning family road trips to most of the 50 states, chaperoning church mission trips to Guatemala and South Africa, and organizing group family ski trips. Phil was a voracious reader, loved learning new languages and was a consummate storyteller.  He played bridge at every opportunity. Phil was a longtime member of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Princeton. He also was a member of the Optimist Club, the Princeton Rifle and Pistol Club, and the Bureau County Farm Bureau, where he was also president.

Survivors include his four children, Susan (Mike) Malone of Okatie, SC, Paula (Ron) Hoerner of Barrington, IL, Bill Naffziger of Walnut and Elizabeth Christian of Fort Wayne, IN; eight grandchildren, Nathan (Anna) Quattrochi, Sarah Quattrochi, Madeline Hoerner, Monica (Justin) Keller, Daniel Naffziger, Frankie Christian, Phillip Christian and Libby Christian; two great grandchildren Olivia and Sophia Quattrochi.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.

A memorial visitation will be held from 10:00am until time of memorial service at 11:00am on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Princeton with Pastor Derek Boggs officiating. Private burial of cremated remains will be in Oakland Cemetery in Princeton. Cremation Rites have been accorded.

Memorials may be directed to the Evangelical Covenant Church Building Construction Fund in Princeton or the Bureau County Farm Bureau Foundation.