Kenneth Wayne Phillips

Kenneth W. Phillips of Sheffield passed away peacefully at his home at 12:25 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. He was surrounded by his loving family. Ken (or Kenny) was born Feb. 6, 1935, in rural Sheffield, the son of William S. and Orpha M. (Johnson) Phillips. After briefly attending Sheffield grade school, his family moved to a farmstead north of Wyanet where he was raised. He graduated from Wyanet High School in 1953, and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1962. He married Ruth Anne DeFreezer on Aug. 23, 1958, at St. Patrick''s Church in Sheffield, and resided there for the remainder of his life. She survives him in Sheffield. A barber by trade, he ran Ken''s Barber Shop in Sheffield for many years. He worked for Hyster Inc. in Kewanee and Redmond''s Hotsy Inc. in Sheffield before he and his brother, Stanley, opened Phil Motors in Princeton in 1978. He worked as an automobile salesman at Faber Motors in Princeton from 1990 until he retired in 2002. Ken loved life, which included longtime friends, camping and traveling, but his life was mainly centered on his wife, his four children, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He had an impish sense of humor and delighted in practical jokes. He was known for his honesty, integrity and fidelity. He was preceded in death by his parents; his older brother, Laverne; and his younger brother, Stanley, who was born on Ken''s first birthday and died on the same day, 2 hours before Ken. He is survived by a sister, Barbara Rich of Wyanet, and several nieces and nephews. Also surviving are his four children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Christopher (Jill, Grayson and Maddox) Phillips of Glendale, Ohio; John (Kay, Will and Christian) Phillips of Mundelein, Jordan (Mary Ann, Emma Lyn and Elise) Vanicek of Hallsville, Texas; Andy (Peggy, Katherine and Emily) Phillips of Elgin; and Lisa Phillips of Sheffield and grandson Ben (Nakia, Payton) Tuttle of Bettendorf, Iowa. By his wishes, no services or visitation will be held at this time. Cremation rites have been accorded. An open invitation to a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. If anyone would like to make a donation in his memory, please make it to his wife. All donations will be made to the Sheffield Rescue Unit and Friends of Strays.